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The Life Cycle of a Cult can be characterized by distinct phases.

1. The Big Idea

A charismatic leader or coaches propose a new and transcendent idea offering a panacea for alienated and vulnerable people.

Thus we find ourselves. Preparations are underway to storm the compound in Australia. Pressure is mounting. Signs of trouble appear from within. A lone figure, vulnerable, anxious, the phrase ATTACKING MINDSET written on his body as a symbol, has emerged into view and is removed with discretion to a different team elsewhere.

Remember the beginning, when the world was still young? The era of early Bazball, of Bazball without brains.

2. Love-Bombing

Movement founders offer a new start, a brighter tomorrow, love, success among a group with shared faith in the philosophy.

What was this thing back then? Just men on a balcony enjoying success. Tattoos. Muscles. Determination. Confident masculinity. Admittedly, The team will claim it’s not a real term, amusingly because if it doesn’t exist, what was that spectacle?

However, everyone understands its essence. It’s Harry Brook attempting a move so depraved it defies description. It’s the adrenaline of Ben Stokes in ultimate mode, a look that says: thoughtful warrior, beard made of wood, natural look, so authentically Modern Savage you almost imagine to notice and find him positioned on the ground bare-chested embracing nature.

It’s the batsman often seen to talk in press conferences, out there looking like a cheerful animal formally attired, expressing thoughts like we’re challenging norms. Certainly, the vibe, for a significant period, was entirely positive.

3. The Growth Phase

Development stage. Cohesion maintained via memorization of key phrases. These ideas can appear contradictory as a loyalty check.

Is it just me? The backlash, the fury, the feeling of letdown after the first Ashes Test defeat seems too strong, overdone. The performance was poor during the match, as is typical there. They were torn apart in the field during a brief period as the bowling and captaincy fell apart, outplayed by Travis Head playing aggressively but smarter, responsive to the situation, an athlete shining with aura.

Currently, we see the criticism, the anger, the perception of the team as a kind of abomination. The feeling seems to be that defeat must be total, they need to lose righteously, to be scoured, flame-throwered, defeated through sheer skill of Mitchell Starc’s movements, the simple basics of the bowler, marking successes humbly like he’s just been given a pleasant gift. What impact will this have?

4. External Conflict

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

Ultimately, half a week out from the second Test, we’ve entered a critical juncture in the story of this movement. England could quite easily win in Brisbane in a blur of adrenal disruption. Alternatively, they could lose just as quickly. Should they fail it appears we may see the final stage.

Prior to that, several aspects to consider on the topic. In the past, at the start, of passion and hope, a column appeared suggesting Bazball was a cult. Criticism followed, which was helpful because everyone knows the best way of proving something definitely isn’t a cult is when its acolytes send hundreds of furiously one-eyed messages objecting to the questioning of the beliefs.

The developments lately is just as interesting. Opposition to the style has now become the cult. Social media is furious, disappointed commentators, shots of angry middle-aged followers overseas missing out on play, similar to people wanting fairness.

On the other hand, we have the wider backdrop of the host’s complex more culturally hard-wired exasperation towards the unconventional visitors, out there saying, hey, that thing you love and have honed to distinguish yourselves from others, well, it’s all a bit of a gag ultimately.

This is the core issue. All movements are similar. Bazball was a cult since the sport itself is insular. In fact, the sport in England is closed, a clique, a private event, a closed world with centuries of ceremonial past defining it. Historically, this was where influence is guarded. It’s the colonial game of the British, the early image-makers. And notably, the nation has its own culture, a structure of hidden ranks, a royal family remains.

England’s cricketers have been isolated in this system from a young age. Seeking change, to build a better atmosphere, they are mirroring their upbringing, creating another a bubble, a closed circle, but doing it this time with a new team and a leader promoting authenticity as long as yourself is quite a lot like myself.

Stay present. Embrace challenges. But no matter how fast and far you run, you remain stuck.

With this mind, now is the time to offer compassion for Bazball, to acknowledge its merits, that are numerous. What does it represent? Promoting liberation. Challenging orthodoxies. Batting aggressively|Attacking with