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The Journey of a Phenomenon is often marked by specific steps.

1. The Grand Vision

An inspiring figure or figureheads propose a new and transcendent idea that promises a panacea for alienated and vulnerable people.

And so it goes. Preparations are underway to storm the compound down in Brisbane. The gunships are circling. Smoke is rising from within. An isolated player, naked, anxious, the words HIGH RELEASE POINT displayed prominently as a symbol, has emerged into view and is removed under a blanket for a temporary assignment at Derbyshire.

Do you ever miss the start, when everything was fresh? The initial phase, of uninhibited aggression.

2. The Honeymoon Phase

Team architects guarantee a reboot, hope for a future, love, redemption together united in belief in the big idea.

What was this thing initially? Just men on a balcony feeling good. Tattoos. Strength. Jawlines. Confident masculinity. Admittedly, The squad insist Bazball doesn’t actually exist, which is funny because if it doesn’t exist, what did we see?

Yet it’s clear what it is. It’s the player executing a stroke so depraved it’s beyond belief. It’s the adrenaline of the captain in ultimate mode, an expression conveying: pensive Nordic god, rugged appearance, natural look, so authentically Modern Savage you wouldn’t be surprised to look down and see him playing at mid-off stripped to the waist and cradling a wild salmon.

It’s the batsman continuing to have permission to talk in press conferences, resembling a happy little woodland creature smartly dressed, saying stuff like we are actively deconstructing the orange. Certainly, the vibe, for quite a long time, was only good energy.

3. A New Life

Growth phase. Unity enforced by rote learning of key phrases. These beliefs can appear contradictory as a loyalty check.

Is it just me? The criticism, the anger, the sense of betrayal following the initial loss appears excessive, overdone. The batting collapsed on the field, as is typical there. They were dominated defensively during a brief period as the bowling and captaincy fell apart, manipulated by Travis Head imitating their style effectively, responsive to the situation, a man playing with a kind of light around him.

Currently, we see the criticism, the rage, the view of the sport as a disgrace. The feeling seems to be that losing isn’t enough, they must be humbled, to be cleansed, destroyed, overwhelmed by the vengeful purity of the bowler’s action, the low-fi orthodoxies of the bowler, seen enjoying successes modestly like he’s just been given a pleasant gift. What impact will this have?

4. The Backlash Phase

Issues emerge due to setbacks. However, faults are ignored. It starts to feed on hostility externally.

In truth, a few days before from the second Test, we’ve entered an intriguing moment in the story of this movement. Victory is possible in Brisbane with bold tactics. More likely, defeat could come swiftly. And if they do lose it appears we may see the death cult phase.

Before that happens, several aspects to consider regarding this. In the past, back in those heady early days, of passion and hope, a column appeared suggesting Bazball was a cult. There was outrage, which demonstrated as it’s known the best way of proving lack of cult status is should followers respond with anger objecting to the questioning of the philosophy.

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, images of frustrated supporters abroad missing out on play, reminiscent of investors demanding recourse.

On the other hand, there is the broader context of the host’s complex more culturally hard-wired exasperation with the aggressive tourists, out there saying, your cherished traditions and have honed as part of your identity from others, it’s just a joke ultimately.

Here lies the truth. Everything is a cult. The style was a trend since the sport itself is insular. Or at least, the team has long been exclusive, a group, a private event, a closed world with a long history of opaque and ritualistic cult history defining it. Historically, this was a place where power and access are hoarded. It’s the imperial sport of the British, the original sports washers. And notably, Britain is itself a cult, a series of esoteric hierarchies, a royal family remains.

England’s cricketers have been sealed up within this world for years. In trying to escape from it, to foster positivity, they are just repeating their upbringing, creating another a bubble, an exclusive group, but doing it this time with a new team and a coach promoting authenticity if you fit the mold.

Focus on the moment. Run towards the danger. Despite efforts, you remain stuck.

Reflecting on this, now is the time to show understanding for Bazball, to recognize its positives, of which there are many. How to define it? Creating a sense of freedom. Challenging orthodoxies. Batting aggressively|Attacking with