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The Life Cycle of a Cult tends to be characterized by clear stages.

1. The Core Concept

An inspiring figure or coaches introduce an innovative concept that promises a cure for disconnected individuals.

Thus we find ourselves. Preparations are underway to storm the compound down in Brisbane. Pressure is mounting. Smoke is rising from within. An isolated player, naked, anxious, the phrase ATTACKING MINDSET displayed prominently as a statement, has stumbled through the lines and is taken aside in secrecy for a temporary assignment in county cricket.

Remember the start, when optimism reigned? The days of Bazball 1.0, of uninhibited aggression.

2. Initial Adoration

Cult leaders promise a reboot, hope for a future, support, salvation together with shared faith in the big idea.

How did it feel back then? Players celebrating feeling good. Tattoos. Forearms. Focus. Confident masculinity. Oh sure, England’s players will claim they don’t use the label, amusingly as it’s denied, what exactly did I just watch?

But we know what it is. It’s the batsman attempting a move so unconventional it has to be pixelated. It’s the adrenaline of Ben Stokes in his final form, a look that says: focused titan, strong features, natural look, genuinely raw you half-expect to glance over and see him playing in the field bare-chested holding a fish.

It’s the opener continuing to have permission addressing the media, appearing as a joyful figure in a waistcoat, uttering phrases such as we’re challenging norms. And yes, the vibe, for quite a long time, was entirely positive.

3. Expansion Period

Building period. Togetherness strengthened via memorization of key phrases. These ideas can appear contradictory to prove commitment.

Does anyone else feel? The reaction, the anger, the disappointment post-defeat seems too strong, too much. The batting collapsed in Perth, as is typical there. They were dominated defensively during a brief period as the bowling and captaincy fell apart, outplayed by the opponent playing aggressively but smarter, adaptive to conditions, an athlete shining with aura.

Currently, we see the attacks, the anger, the view of the sport as a failure. The consensus is that losing isn’t enough, they need to lose righteously, to be scoured, flame-throwered, defeated through sheer skill of the pace attack, the low-fi orthodoxies of the bowler, marking his wickets with a bashful smile similar to getting a nice new fishing rod. What will this do to them?

4. The Backlash Phase

Problems arise due to setbacks. But the cult cannot admit errors. It starts to feed on hatred of the outside world.

Ultimately, approaching the next match, we’ve entered an intriguing moment in the story of this approach. They might succeed in Brisbane with bold tactics. More likely, they could lose just as quickly. In case of defeat it feels like we may see the final stage.

Before that happens, there are two things worth saying regarding this. In the past, back in those heady early days, of optimism and energy, I wrote an article calling it a phenomenon. People were very angry, which demonstrated as it’s known a method to show something definitely isn’t a cult is when its acolytes react defensively objecting to the questioning of its truths.

Recent events recently is just as interesting. Opposition to the style is now the trend. Online outrage is widespread, disappointed commentators, pictures of upset followers overseas disappointed by the short match, reminiscent of investors demanding recourse.

Conversely, exists the larger scene of Australia’s more nuanced deep-seated frustration at these weirdly passive-aggressive buccaneers, stating, your cherished traditions and have fostered and nurtured to distinguish yourselves from the opposition, it’s just a joke after all.

This is the core issue. All movements are similar. The approach was a phenomenon as the game has its own culture. Or at least, the sport in England is closed, a clique, a garden party, a restricted environment with centuries of ceremonial past supporting it. This has always been where entry is limited. It’s the imperial sport of the nation, the original sports washers. And guess what, Britain is itself a cult, a series of esoteric hierarchies, a place that literally still has a king.

The players have been sealed up in this environment since childhood. In trying to escape from it, to create a less brutal environment, they are mirroring their own experience, building another enclosure, a closed circle, but doing it this time with a new team and a leader encouraging individuality as long as yourself is quite a lot like myself.

Live where your feet are. Run towards the danger. Despite efforts, you remain stuck.

Reflecting on this, it is perhaps the moment to have some sympathy for the approach, to acknowledge its merits, of which there are many. What does it represent? Promoting liberation. Defying norms. Batting aggressively|Attacking with