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The Journey of a Movement is often defined by specific steps.

1. The Core Concept

An inspiring figure or leaders introduce an innovative concept offering a cure for disconnected individuals.

Thus we find ourselves. Plans are in motion to storm the compound overseas. Tensions are rising. Conflict emerges from within. An isolated player, exposed, shivering, the slogan POSITIVE INTENT written on his body in chicken blood, has stumbled from the field and is being led away under a blanket for a temporary assignment in county cricket.

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

2. The Honeymoon Phase

Cult leaders offer a new start, hope for a future, camaraderie, redemption among a group who all believe in the philosophy.

What was this thing initially? A team united basking in glory. Body art. Forearms. Determination. Confident masculinity. Admittedly, The team insist they don’t use the label, ironically since it’s not recognized, what did we see?

However, everyone understands the concept. It’s the batsman playing a shot so outrageous it defies description. It’s the thrill of the captain at his peak, a demeanor suggesting: focused titan, beard made of wood, hair woven from beaver hide, truly contemporary you half-expect to notice and find him positioned on the ground shirtless and cradling a wild salmon.

It’s the batsman still being allowed addressing the media, appearing as a cheerful animal formally attired, expressing thoughts like we’re breaking down traditions. And yes, the atmosphere, initially, was entirely positive.

3. The Growth Phase

Growth phase. Unity enforced by rote learning of mantras. These beliefs can appear contradictory as a test of “true belief”.

Does anyone else feel? The backlash, the fury, the sense of betrayal post-defeat seems too strong, too much. The performance was poor on the field, as they often do in Australia. They were savaged while bowling during a brief period as plans unraveled, outplayed by Travis Head batting like England but better, adjusting to the pitch, a performer excelling with aura.

Now there is the attacks, the rage, the sense of English Test cricket as a failure. The feeling seems to be that England don’t just need to lose, they need to lose righteously, to be cleansed, obliterated, defeated through sheer skill of the bowler’s action, the simple basics of the bowler, seen enjoying successes with a bashful smile similar to getting a nice new fishing rod. What impact will this have?

4. The Backlash Phase

Issues emerge from failures in the plan. But the cult cannot admit errors. It starts to feed on anger towards critics.

The fact remains, approaching the next match, we are at a delicious point of tension in the story of this approach. They might succeed in Brisbane in a blur of adrenal disruption. Probably, they could lose just as quickly. In case of defeat it seems we really might be entering the death cult phase.

Before that happens, several aspects to consider on the topic. In the past, during the initial excitement, of passion and hope, a column appeared calling it a phenomenon. Criticism followed, which demonstrated as it’s known a method to show something definitely isn’t a cult is should followers react defensively objecting to the questioning of the beliefs.

What has happened lately are fascinating. It seems that hating Bazball has turned into a movement. Online outrage is widespread, critical analysts, pictures of upset followers overseas missing out on play, like a room full of investors demanding recourse.

On the other hand, we have the wider backdrop of Australia’s more nuanced deep-seated frustration with the aggressive tourists, stating, the methods you value and have fostered and nurtured as part of your identity from others, well, it’s all a bit of a gag in the end old boy.

Here lies the truth. It’s all cults. The approach was a phenomenon since the sport itself is insular. Or at least, the sport in England is closed, a clique, a private event, a restricted environment with a long history of opaque and ritualistic cult history behind it. Historically, this was a place where power and access are hoarded. It’s the imperial sport of the nation, the pioneering brand. And guess what, Britain is itself a cult, a series of esoteric hierarchies, a place that literally still has a king.

England’s cricketers have been enclosed in this environment for years. Attempting to break free, to create a less brutal environment, they are mirroring their upbringing, creating another a bubble, a closed circle, but now with 15 cool guys and a mentor promoting authenticity provided you conform.

Stay present. Embrace challenges. However much you change, things stay similar.

With this mind, it is perhaps the moment to offer compassion for the movement, to recognize its positives, that are numerous. What is Bazball? Promoting liberation. Questioning traditions. Batting aggressively|Attacking with