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The Journey of a Phenomenon tends to be characterized by clear stages.

1. The Grand Vision

A dominant personality or figureheads propose a revolutionary approach that promises a panacea for alienated and vulnerable people.

And so it goes. Plans are in motion to storm the compound overseas. Tensions are rising. Conflict emerges from the sidelines. A lone figure, naked, nervous, the words HIGH RELEASE POINT displayed prominently as a symbol, has stumbled into view and is being led away under a blanket towards an inconclusive loan stint elsewhere.

Do you ever miss the start, when the world was still young? The initial phase, of uninhibited aggression.

2. The Honeymoon Phase

Team architects promise a new start, hope for a future, camaraderie, success within a community united in belief in the method.

What did it represent initially? Players celebrating feeling good. Tattoos. Strength. Jawlines. Confident masculinity. Oh sure, England’s players often say Bazball doesn’t actually exist, which is funny because if it doesn’t exist, what did we see?

However, everyone understands what it is. It’s the batsman executing a stroke so outrageous it has to be pixelated. It’s the adrenaline of the captain at his peak, a look that says: pensive Nordic god, rugged appearance, untamed style, genuinely raw you wouldn’t be surprised to look down and notice he’s fielding at mid-off shirtless and cradling a wild salmon.

It’s the batsman continuing to have permission addressing the media, out there looking like a cheerful animal formally attired, expressing thoughts like we’re breaking down traditions. Certainly, the vibe, for a significant period, was uplifting.

3. Expansion Period

Growth phase. Togetherness strengthened by rote learning of key phrases. These ideas may seem irrational as a test of “true belief”.

Is it just me? The reaction, the outrage, the feeling of letdown post-defeat seems too strong, unwarranted. England batted badly on the field, as history shows. They were dominated in the field in a short span as the bowling and captaincy fell apart, carved around by Travis Head playing aggressively but smarter, adjusting to the pitch, a performer excelling with aura.

And now we have this the pile-on, the anger, the sense of English Test cricket as a failure. The consensus is that losing isn’t enough, they should be dismantled, to be purged, destroyed, destroyed through sheer skill of the pace attack, the conventional tactics of the bowler, seen enjoying his wickets humbly similar to getting a pleasant gift. How will they respond?

4. External Conflict

Challenges surface because of mistakes. But the cult cannot admit errors. It turns to anger towards critics.

Ultimately, a few days before from the second Test, we have now reached an intriguing moment in the lifespan of this approach. They might succeed overseas in a blur of adrenal disruption. Probably, defeat could come swiftly. And if they do lose it appears we really might be entering the final stage.

Before that happens, there are two things to note about this. Previously, during the initial excitement, of passion and hope, I wrote an article labeling it a movement. Criticism followed, which was helpful because everyone knows the best way of proving that it’s not a closed group is should followers respond with anger rejecting criticism of its truths.

What has happened in the last few days is just as interesting. It seems that hating Bazball is now the trend. We have a uniformly angry internet, critical analysts, shots of angry middle-aged followers overseas missing out on play, reminiscent of people wanting fairness.

On the other hand, we have the wider backdrop of Australia’s more nuanced ingrained annoyance towards the unconventional visitors, stating, your cherished traditions and have fostered and nurtured as one way of separating yourself culturally from us, well, it’s all a bit of a gag in the end old boy.

And this is the real point. It’s all cults. Bazball was a cult as the game has its own culture. In fact, the team has long been exclusive, a circle, a private event, an insular community with centuries of tradition and mystery behind it. Historically, this was a place where power and access are hoarded. It’s the colonial game of England, the original sports washers. And surprisingly, Britain is itself a cult, a series of esoteric hierarchies, a place that literally still has a king.

The team have been isolated within this world since childhood. Seeking change, to create a less brutal environment, they are just repeating their past, building another enclosure, a closed circle, however with 15 cool guys and a leader promoting authenticity as long as yourself is quite a lot like myself.

Stay present. Embrace challenges. However much you change, you’re always basically in the same place.

Considering this, it might be appropriate to offer compassion for the approach, to recognize its positives, of which there are many. How to define it? Encouraging expression. Questioning traditions. Batting aggressively|Attacking with