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The Life Cycle of a Cult is often defined by clear stages.

1. The Core Concept

A dominant personality or figureheads present a new and transcendent idea that promises a solution for disconnected individuals.

And so it goes. Plans are in motion to challenge the establishment overseas. Pressure is mounting. Conflict emerges from the sidelines. An isolated player, naked, anxious, the slogan POSITIVE INTENT displayed prominently as a statement, has emerged through the lines and is taken aside in secrecy for a temporary assignment in county cricket.

Do you ever miss the early days, when the world was still young? The initial phase, of Bazball without brains.

2. Love-Bombing

Movement founders promise a reboot, optimism ahead, love, salvation within a community united in belief in the philosophy.

How did it feel back then? Just men on a balcony feeling good. Ink. Muscles. Jawlines. Confident masculinity. Of course, England’s players will claim it’s not a real term, which is funny as it’s denied, what was that spectacle?

However, everyone understands what it is. It’s the batsman attempting a move so outrageous it has to be pixelated. It’s the adrenaline of Ben Stokes in his final form, an expression conveying: focused titan, rugged appearance, hair woven from beaver hide, so authentically Modern Savage you wouldn’t be surprised to look down and notice he’s fielding in the field stripped to the waist holding a fish.

It’s the batsman still being allowed to talk in press conferences, resembling a happy little woodland creature in a waistcoat, saying stuff like we’re challenging norms. Indeed, the vibe, for quite a long time, was only good energy.

3. Expansion Period

Building period. Unity enforced by rote learning of the cult’s slogans. These beliefs are often illogical to prove commitment.

Does anyone else feel? The reaction, the fury, the disappointment post-defeat appears excessive, overdone. The performance was poor on the field, as they often do in Australia. They were torn apart defensively in a short span as plans unraveled, outplayed by the opponent imitating their style effectively, responsive to the situation, a performer excelling with a kind of light around him.

Now there is the attacks, the rage, the view of the sport as a disgrace. The feeling seems to be that defeat must be total, they need to lose righteously, to be cleansed, destroyed, defeated through sheer skill of Mitchell Starc’s movements, the low-fi orthodoxies of the veteran, marking his wickets modestly similar to getting a pleasant gift. How will they respond?

4. Hate Bonding

Problems arise because of mistakes. Yet, mistakes are denied. It starts to feed on hostility externally.

The fact remains, a few days before the upcoming game, we have now reached a critical juncture in the lifespan of this movement. England could quite easily win in the next Test through aggressive play. Alternatively, defeat could come swiftly. And if they do lose it appears we really might be entering the death cult phase.

Ahead of this, a couple of points to consider on the topic. In the past, during the initial excitement, of optimism and energy, a column appeared labeling it a movement. Criticism followed, which proved the point since it’s clear the best way of proving that it’s not a closed group is should followers send hundreds of furiously one-eyed messages denying scrutiny of its truths.

The developments lately is just as interesting. It seems that hating Bazball has turned into a movement. Online outrage is widespread, disappointed commentators, images of frustrated followers overseas cheated out of three days of cricket, like a room full of timeshare owners seeking justice.

Meanwhile, exists the larger scene of Australia’s more nuanced ingrained annoyance at these weirdly passive-aggressive buccaneers, claiming, the methods you value and have honed to distinguish yourselves from the opposition, well, it’s all a bit of a gag ultimately.

This is the core issue. It’s all cults. The style was a trend since the sport itself is insular. Or rather, English cricket has always been a cult, a group, a garden party, an insular community with a long history of opaque and ritualistic cult history defining it. This has always been where entry is limited. It’s the colonial game of England, the original sports washers. And guess what, Britain is itself a cult, a series of esoteric hierarchies, a place that literally still has a king.

The team have been enclosed in this environment from a young age. Seeking change, to build a better atmosphere, they are mirroring their upbringing, forming a new circle, a limited community, but doing it this time with a new team and a mentor who wants you to be yourself if you fit the mold.

Live where your feet are. Run towards the danger. But no matter how fast and far you run, you’re always basically in the same place.

Considering this, it might be appropriate to offer compassion for Bazball, to recognize its positives, that are numerous. What is Bazball? Encouraging expression. Questioning traditions. Batting aggressively|Attacking with