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The Journey of a Movement is often marked by clear stages.

1. The Big Idea

A dominant personality or figureheads introduce a revolutionary approach that promises a panacea for alienated and vulnerable people.

Thus we find ourselves. Plans are in motion to confront the system in Australia. The gunships are circling. Conflict emerges from within. An isolated player, vulnerable, nervous, the phrase ATTACKING MINDSET written on his body as a statement, has come staggering through the lines and is removed with discretion to a different team elsewhere.

Do you ever miss the beginning, when the world was still young? The era of early Bazball, of Bazball without brains.

2. The Honeymoon Phase

Cult leaders offer a new start, a brighter tomorrow, camaraderie, success within a community who all believe in the method.

What was this thing at first? Players celebrating enjoying success. Ink. Strength. Determination. Confident masculinity. Admittedly, England’s players often say it’s not a real term, ironically because if it doesn’t exist, what did we see?

However, everyone understands its essence. It’s the batsman attempting a move so unconventional it has to be pixelated. It’s the excitement of the leader at his peak, a look that says: focused titan, rugged appearance, untamed style, so authentically Modern Savage you half-expect to notice and find him positioned on the ground stripped to the waist embracing nature.

It’s Ben Duckett continuing to have permission to talk in press conferences, out there looking like a cheerful animal smartly dressed, uttering phrases such as we’re challenging norms. And yes, the atmosphere, initially, was uplifting.

3. A New Life

Development stage. Togetherness strengthened through repetition of key phrases. These beliefs may seem irrational to prove commitment.

Is it just me? The reaction, the fury, the sense of betrayal post-defeat seems too strong, overdone. England batted badly during the match, as they often do in Australia. They were dominated while bowling for a couple of hours as plans unraveled, manipulated by Travis Head imitating their style effectively, responsive to the situation, a performer excelling with brilliance.

Currently, we see the attacks, the frustration, the perception of the team as a disgrace. The opinion suggests that losing isn’t enough, they should be dismantled, to be cleansed, obliterated, overwhelmed by the vengeful purity of the pace attack, the low-fi orthodoxies of Scott Boland, seen enjoying successes humbly as if receiving a rewarding prize. What will this do to them?

4. The Backlash Phase

Issues emerge from failures in the plan. But the cult cannot admit errors. It begins to thrive on hostility externally.

The fact remains, approaching the upcoming game, we have now reached an intriguing moment in the lifespan of this approach. They might succeed in Brisbane through aggressive play. More likely, defeat could come swiftly. And if they do lose it appears we really might be entering the final stage.

Ahead of this, there are two things worth saying on the topic. More than two years ago, back in those heady early days, of passion and hope, I wrote an article calling it a phenomenon. Criticism followed, which proved the point because everyone knows how to confirm something definitely isn’t a cult is when its acolytes respond with anger rejecting criticism of its truths.

The developments lately are fascinating. It seems that hating Bazball has now become the cult. We have a uniformly angry internet, disappointed commentators, pictures of upset supporters abroad missing out on play, reminiscent of timeshare owners seeking justice.

Meanwhile, we have the wider backdrop of the host’s complex ingrained annoyance towards the unconventional visitors, claiming, hey, that thing you love and have fostered and nurtured as part of your identity from the opposition, it’s not serious in the end old boy.

This is the core issue. It’s all cults. Bazball was a cult since the sport itself is insular. Or rather, English cricket has always been a cult, a group, a garden party, a restricted environment with a long history of ceremonial past supporting it. It has long been where entry is limited. It’s the colonial game of England, the early image-makers. And surprisingly, the nation has its own culture, a structure of hidden ranks, a place that literally still has a king.

The players have been sealed up within this world from a young age. Seeking change, to foster positivity, they are simply replicating their own experience, forming a new circle, a limited community, however with 15 cool guys and a coach encouraging individuality as long as yourself is quite a lot like myself.

Focus on the moment. Embrace challenges. Despite efforts, you remain stuck.

With this mind, it is perhaps the moment to show understanding for Bazball, to appreciate its good points, of which there are many. How to define it? Encouraging expression. Questioning traditions. Batting aggressively|Attacking with