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The Journey of a Cult is often defined by clear stages.

1. The Grand Vision

A dominant personality or leaders propose a new and transcendent idea pledging a cure for disconnected individuals.

Thus we find ourselves. Preparations are underway to storm the compound in Australia. The gunships are circling. Conflict emerges from the out-houses. An isolated player, exposed, anxious, the slogan POSITIVE INTENT written on his body as a statement, has emerged from the field and is removed under a blanket to a different team elsewhere.

Do you recall the beginning, when optimism reigned? The days of Bazball 1.0, of Bazball without brains.

2. Initial Adoration

Cult leaders offer a reboot, a brighter tomorrow, camaraderie, salvation within a community with shared faith in the method.

What was this thing initially? Players celebrating enjoying success. Body art. Forearms. Jawlines. Peak performance vibes. Oh sure, The team often say they don’t use the label, ironically because if it doesn’t exist, what did we see?

But we know the concept. It’s the batsman executing a stroke so outrageous it’s beyond belief. It’s the adrenaline of the leader at his peak, an expression conveying: focused titan, strong features, natural look, genuinely raw you wouldn’t be surprised to look down and notice he’s fielding at mid-off bare-chested holding a fish.

It’s the opener often seen speaking publicly, resembling a joyful figure in a waistcoat, expressing thoughts like we are actively deconstructing the orange. Certainly, the atmosphere, for a significant period, was only good energy.

3. Expansion Period

Development stage. Cohesion maintained by rote learning of mantras. These ideas may seem irrational to prove commitment.

Does anyone else feel? The backlash, the outrage, the feeling of letdown following the initial loss appears excessive, too much. England batted badly during the match, as is typical there. They were savaged defensively for a couple of hours when tactics failed, outplayed by the opponent playing aggressively but smarter, responsive to the situation, a man playing with a kind of light around him.

And now we have this the pile-on, the rage, the view of the sport as a failure. The opinion suggests that defeat must be total, they should be dismantled, to be cleansed, flame-throwered, overwhelmed by the vengeful purity of the pace attack, the conventional tactics of the veteran, seen enjoying successes humbly like he’s just been given a pleasant gift. What impact will this have?

4. External Conflict

Problems arise from failures in the plan. However, faults are ignored. It begins to thrive on hatred of the outside world.

Ultimately, half a week out the upcoming game, we are at a delicious point of tension in the journey of this movement. England could quite easily win in Brisbane with bold tactics. More likely, failure may follow. In case of defeat it appears we may see the decline.

Before that happens, several aspects worth saying on the topic. More than two years ago, back in those heady early days, of light and heat, I wrote an article calling it a phenomenon. There was outrage, which was helpful since it’s clear a method to show that it’s not a closed group is when its acolytes react defensively denying scrutiny of the beliefs.

The developments recently are equally notable. It seems that hating Bazball has turned into a movement. Social media is furious, angry English pundits, pictures of upset travelling fans cheated out of three days of cricket, similar to investors demanding recourse.

On the other hand, exists the larger scene of the host’s complex more culturally hard-wired exasperation towards the unconventional visitors, stating, the methods you value and have developed as one way of separating yourself from the opposition, it’s just a joke in the end old boy.

Here lies the truth. All movements are similar. The style was a trend as the game has its own culture. Or at least, the sport in England is closed, a group, a private event, an insular community with a long history of opaque and ritualistic cult history behind it. This has always been where influence is guarded. It’s the imperial sport of the British, the early image-makers. And guess what, the country is a phenomenon, a series of esoteric hierarchies, a place that literally still has a king.

England’s cricketers have been enclosed in this environment from a young age. Attempting to break free, to foster positivity, they are just repeating their past, building another enclosure, a limited community, but now with a modern squad and a coach promoting authenticity as long as yourself is quite a lot like myself.

Stay present. Confront risks. Despite efforts, you remain stuck.

With this mind, it is perhaps the moment to offer compassion for the movement, to recognize its positives, which are significant. What is Bazball? Encouraging expression. Questioning traditions. Batting aggressively|Attacking with