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The Evolution of a Phenomenon is often marked by clear stages.

1. The Core Concept

An inspiring figure or figureheads introduce a revolutionary approach that promises a solution for disconnected individuals.

And so it goes. Plans are in motion to challenge the establishment down in Brisbane. Tensions are rising. Conflict emerges from the sidelines. A lone figure, vulnerable, nervous, the phrase ATTACKING MINDSET smeared across his chest as a statement, has emerged through the lines and is removed under a blanket to a different team elsewhere.

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

2. Love-Bombing

Team architects promise a reboot, optimism ahead, support, success together with shared faith in the method.

What did it represent initially? A team united enjoying success. Ink. Strength. Jawlines. Confident masculinity. Admittedly, England’s players will claim they don’t use the label, ironically because if it doesn’t exist, what was that spectacle?

However, everyone understands its essence. It’s the batsman attempting a move so outrageous it has to be pixelated. It’s the thrill of the leader in his final form, an expression conveying: thoughtful warrior, beard made of wood, untamed style, genuinely raw you almost imagine to notice and see him playing in the field bare-chested holding a fish.

It’s Ben Duckett often seen to talk in press conferences, appearing as a cheerful animal in a waistcoat, expressing thoughts like we’re challenging norms. Indeed, the energy, for quite a long time, was uplifting.

3. The Growth Phase

Growth phase. Unity enforced by rote learning of the cult’s slogans. These principles are often illogical to prove commitment.

Is it just me? The reaction, the fury, the disappointment following the initial loss seems too strong, overdone. The performance was poor in Perth, as is typical there. They were torn apart defensively in a short span when tactics failed, carved around by the batsman batting like England but better, adaptive to conditions, an athlete shining with aura.

And now we have this the criticism, the frustration, the perception of the team as a failure. The opinion suggests that England don’t just need to lose, they must be humbled, to be purged, obliterated, defeated by the vengeful purity of Mitchell Starc’s movements, the low-fi orthodoxies of the veteran, out there celebrating his wickets modestly as if receiving a pleasant gift. What will this do to them?

4. The Backlash Phase

Issues emerge because of mistakes. But the cult cannot admit errors. It turns to hatred of the outside world.

The fact remains, approaching the upcoming game, we have now reached an intriguing moment in the story of this movement. England could quite easily win overseas in a blur of adrenal disruption. Alternatively, defeat could come swiftly. In case of defeat it seems we may see the death cult phase.

Ahead of this, a couple of points worth saying about this. More than two years ago, back in those heady early days, of optimism and energy, I wrote an article suggesting Bazball was a cult. Criticism followed, which demonstrated as it’s known a method to show something definitely isn’t a cult is when its acolytes respond with anger objecting to the questioning of the beliefs.

Recent events lately is just as interesting. Criticism of the approach has now become the cult. Online outrage is widespread, critical analysts, pictures of upset followers overseas cheated out of three days of cricket, like a room full of investors demanding recourse.

On the other hand, we have the wider backdrop of the opponent’s mixed deep-seated frustration towards the unconventional visitors, stating, the methods you value and have fostered and nurtured as part of your identity from others, it’s not serious ultimately.

Here lies the truth. It’s all cults. The style was a trend as the game has its own culture. In fact, the sport in England is closed, a clique, a private event, a closed world with two hundred years of ceremonial past supporting it. It has long been where influence is guarded. It’s the imperial sport of the British, the original sports washers. And surprisingly, the country is a phenomenon, a system of unknown levels, a monarchy still exists.

The players have been enclosed in this system from a young age. In trying to escape from it, to create a less brutal environment, they are simply replicating their past, forming a new circle, a limited community, but now with 15 cool guys and a coach encouraging individuality if you fit the mold.

Focus on the moment. Confront risks. However much you change, things stay similar.

Reflecting on this, it is perhaps the moment to have some sympathy for Bazball, to appreciate its good points, that are numerous. How to define it? Creating a sense of freedom. Challenging orthodoxies. Batting aggressively|Attacking with