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The Life Cycle of a Cult can be defined by clear stages.

1. The Big Idea

A charismatic leader or leaders present a new and transcendent idea offering a solution for alienated and vulnerable people.

Thus we find ourselves. Preparations are underway to challenge the establishment overseas. Pressure is mounting. Smoke is rising from within. An isolated player, vulnerable, anxious, the slogan POSITIVE INTENT displayed prominently as a statement, has stumbled from the field and is removed with discretion towards an inconclusive loan stint in county cricket.

Do you ever miss the early days, when optimism reigned? The era of early Bazball, of pure instinct.

2. The Honeymoon Phase

Cult leaders promise a new start, hope for a future, support, salvation within a community united in belief in the method.

How did it feel at first? Players celebrating basking in glory. Tattoos. Forearms. Determination. Elite male wellness energy. Oh sure, The team will claim it’s not a real term, ironically because if it doesn’t exist, what was that spectacle?

However, everyone understands the concept. It’s the batsman attempting a move so outrageous it defies description. It’s the excitement of the captain at his peak, an expression conveying: focused titan, rugged appearance, natural look, genuinely raw you almost imagine to notice and find him positioned in the field stripped to the waist and cradling a wild salmon.

It’s the opener often seen addressing the media, appearing as a happy little woodland creature smartly dressed, saying stuff like we’re challenging norms. And yes, the atmosphere, for a significant period, was entirely positive.

3. Expansion Period

Development stage. Togetherness strengthened via memorization of the cult’s slogans. These ideas are often illogical as a loyalty check.

Is it just me? The backlash, the anger, the feeling of letdown after the first Ashes Test defeat appears excessive, too much. The batting collapsed on the field, as history shows. They were torn apart defensively for a couple of hours as plans unraveled, carved around by Travis Head imitating their style effectively, adaptive to conditions, a performer excelling with a kind of light around him.

And now we have this the pile-on, the anger, the perception of the team 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 via traditional methods of the pace attack, the low-fi orthodoxies of Scott Boland, seen enjoying achievements humbly like he’s just been given a pleasant gift. What impact will this have?

4. The Backlash Phase

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

The fact remains, half a week out the next match, we are at a critical juncture in the lifespan of this thing. Victory is possible in the next Test with bold tactics. More likely, failure may follow. And if they do lose it seems we may see the death cult phase.

Ahead of this, several aspects to consider on the topic. Previously, during the initial excitement, of light and heat, I wrote an article suggesting Bazball was a cult. There was outrage, which demonstrated since it’s clear the best way of proving something definitely isn’t a cult is should followers send hundreds of furiously one-eyed messages denying scrutiny of its truths.

What has happened recently is just as interesting. It seems that hating Bazball is now the trend. Online outrage is widespread, disappointed commentators, pictures of upset followers overseas disappointed by the short match, reminiscent of people wanting fairness.

Conversely, exists the larger scene of the opponent’s mixed deep-seated frustration towards the unconventional visitors, stating, hey, that thing you love and have fostered and nurtured as one way of separating yourself from others, it’s not serious in the end old boy.

Here lies the truth. All movements are similar. The style was a trend because cricket is a cult. In fact, English cricket has always been a cult, a group, a garden party, a restricted environment with two hundred years of tradition and mystery behind it. Historically, this was where entry is limited. It’s the colonial game of the nation, the pioneering brand. And guess what, the nation has its own culture, a system of unknown levels, a royal family remains.

The players have been enclosed in this environment for years. Attempting to break free, to create a less brutal environment, they are mirroring their own experience, forming a new circle, a limited community, but doing it this time with a new team and a coach promoting authenticity provided you conform.

Stay present. Embrace challenges. Despite efforts, you remain stuck.

Considering this, now is the time to have some sympathy for the movement, to recognize its positives, which are significant. What does it represent? Encouraging expression. Challenging orthodoxies. Batting aggressively|Attacking with