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

1. The Grand Vision

A charismatic leader or leaders propose a revolutionary approach pledging a panacea for struggling players.

Thus we find ourselves. They’re getting ready to confront the system overseas. The gunships are circling. Signs of trouble appear from the out-houses. A lone figure, naked, nervous, the phrase ATTACKING MINDSET smeared across his chest as a statement, has stumbled through the lines and is being led away with discretion to a different team in county cricket.

Do you recall the start, when the world was still young? The initial phase, of Bazball without brains.

2. Love-Bombing

Cult leaders offer a fresh beginning, hope for a future, support, success among a group united in belief in the philosophy.

What did it represent initially? A team united basking in glory. Ink. Forearms. Determination. Confident masculinity. Oh sure, The squad insist they don’t use the label, amusingly as it’s denied, what was that spectacle?

However, everyone understands the concept. It’s Harry Brook attempting a move so outrageous it defies description. It’s the adrenaline of the captain in his final form, a look that says: pensive Nordic god, rugged appearance, hair woven from beaver hide, so authentically Modern Savage you wouldn’t be surprised to look down and see him playing at mid-off shirtless embracing nature.

It’s Ben Duckett still being allowed speaking publicly, out there looking like a cheerful animal formally attired, saying stuff like we are actively deconstructing the orange. Indeed, the atmosphere, initially, was only good energy.

3. A New Life

Building period. Togetherness strengthened through repetition of mantras. These principles can appear contradictory to prove commitment.

Is it just me? The criticism, the anger, the disappointment after the first Ashes Test defeat feels overblown, too much. The batting collapsed on the field, as history shows. They were torn apart while bowling in a short span as the bowling and captaincy fell apart, manipulated by the batsman imitating their style effectively, responsive to the situation, a performer excelling with a kind of light around him.

Now there is the criticism, the anger, the perception of the team as a disgrace. The consensus is that losing isn’t enough, they need to lose righteously, to be purged, flame-throwered, defeated through sheer skill of the bowler’s action, the simple basics of the bowler, out there celebrating successes modestly like he’s just been given a pleasant gift. What will this do to them?

4. External Conflict

Issues emerge from failures in the plan. However, faults are ignored. It begins to thrive on hostility externally.

Ultimately, half a week out the next match, we’ve entered an intriguing moment in the lifespan of this movement. They might succeed in Brisbane with bold tactics. Probably, they could lose just as quickly. Should they fail it seems we could be witnessing the death cult phase.

Before that happens, there are two things to note regarding this. More than two years ago, back in those heady early days, of passion and hope, I wrote an article labeling it a movement. Criticism followed, which proved the point because everyone knows the best way of proving something definitely isn’t a cult is when its acolytes respond with anger denying scrutiny of its truths.

What has happened lately are equally notable. Opposition to the style has now become the cult. Social media is furious, disappointed commentators, pictures of upset followers overseas missing out on play, like a room full of timeshare owners seeking justice.

Meanwhile, we have the wider backdrop of Australia’s more nuanced more culturally hard-wired exasperation at these weirdly passive-aggressive buccaneers, out there saying, hey, that thing you love and have fostered and nurtured as one way of separating yourself from the opposition, it’s just a joke in the end old boy.

This is the core issue. Everything is a cult. Bazball was a cult since the sport itself is insular. Or at least, English cricket has always been a cult, a circle, a garden party, a closed world with a long history of ceremonial past supporting it. This has always been a place where power and access are hoarded. It’s the British pastime of England, the early image-makers. And surprisingly, Britain is itself a cult, a system of unknown levels, a royal family remains.

The team have been enclosed in this system for years. Seeking change, to build a better atmosphere, they are just repeating their own experience, creating another a bubble, an exclusive group, but now with a new team and a coach promoting authenticity if you fit the mold.

Stay present. Embrace challenges. But no matter how fast and far you run, you’re always basically in the same place.

Reflecting on this, it is perhaps the moment to show understanding for the movement, to acknowledge its merits, of which there are many. What is Bazball? Encouraging expression. Questioning traditions. Batting aggressively|Attacking with