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

1. The Grand Vision

A dominant personality or leaders propose a new and transcendent idea pledging a solution for struggling players.

Thus we find ourselves. Preparations are underway to challenge the establishment down in Brisbane. Pressure is mounting. Smoke is rising from the out-houses. An isolated player, exposed, shivering, the words HIGH RELEASE POINT displayed prominently as a statement, has emerged into view and is taken aside in secrecy to a different team elsewhere.

Do you recall the beginning, when everything was fresh? The era of early Bazball, of Bazball without brains.

2. Initial Adoration

Movement founders promise a reboot, a brighter tomorrow, camaraderie, success within a community with shared faith in the big idea.

How did it feel initially? A team united basking in glory. Body art. Forearms. Focus. Elite male wellness energy. Of course, England’s players will claim Bazball doesn’t actually exist, ironically because if it doesn’t exist, what was that spectacle?

Yet it’s clear what it is. It’s Harry Brook playing a shot so unconventional it’s beyond belief. It’s the thrill of the captain in his final form, a look that says: pensive Nordic god, rugged appearance, hair woven from beaver hide, truly contemporary you half-expect to look down and see him playing in the field stripped to the waist holding a fish.

It’s Ben Duckett often seen to talk in press conferences, appearing as a joyful figure in a waistcoat, expressing thoughts like we are actively deconstructing the orange. And yes, the energy, for quite a long time, was only good energy.

3. Expansion Period

Growth phase. Unity enforced by rote learning of the cult’s slogans. These principles may seem irrational to prove commitment.

Does anyone else feel? The criticism, the anger, the sense of betrayal post-defeat appears excessive, too much. The performance was poor during the match, as they often do in Australia. They were savaged defensively during a brief period when tactics failed, carved around by the opponent batting like England but better, adaptive to conditions, an athlete shining with brilliance.

Currently, we see the attacks, the frustration, the perception of the team as a kind of abomination. The opinion suggests that England don’t just need to lose, they must be humbled, to be cleansed, obliterated, defeated by the vengeful purity of the bowler’s action, the conventional tactics of the bowler, out there celebrating successes humbly like he’s just been given a nice new fishing rod. What impact will this have?

4. Hate Bonding

Challenges surface because of mistakes. However, faults are ignored. It starts to feed on anger towards critics.

The fact remains, half a week out the next match, we have now reached a delicious point of tension in the journey of this movement. They might succeed in Brisbane with bold tactics. Alternatively, defeat could come swiftly. And if they do lose it appears we may see the death cult phase.

Before that happens, there are two things to note regarding this. Previously, back in those heady early days, of passion and hope, I wrote an article calling it a phenomenon. Criticism followed, which was helpful because everyone knows a method to show something definitely isn’t a cult is should followers send hundreds of furiously one-eyed messages denying scrutiny of the beliefs.

The developments in the last few days are equally notable. Criticism of the approach is now the trend. Online outrage is widespread, disappointed commentators, pictures of upset followers overseas missing out on play, similar to investors demanding recourse.

Meanwhile, we have the wider backdrop of the opponent’s mixed more culturally hard-wired exasperation with the aggressive tourists, stating, the methods you value and have fostered and nurtured to distinguish yourselves from others, it’s just a joke after all.

Here lies the truth. All movements are similar. Bazball was a cult since the sport itself is insular. In fact, the team has long been exclusive, a group, a garden party, a restricted environment with centuries of tradition and mystery supporting it. It has long been where entry is limited. It’s the colonial game of England, the early image-makers. And notably, Britain is itself a cult, a series of esoteric hierarchies, a monarchy still exists.

The players have been sealed up in this system for years. Seeking change, to foster positivity, they are just repeating their past, creating another a bubble, a closed circle, however with 15 cool guys and a leader encouraging individuality if you fit the mold.

Focus on the moment. Confront risks. Despite efforts, you’re always basically in the same place.

Considering this, it is perhaps the moment to show understanding for the movement, to acknowledge its merits, of which there are many. How to define it? Promoting liberation. Challenging orthodoxies. Batting aggressively|Attacking with