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The Life Cycle of a Cult tends to be characterized by specific steps.

1. The Core Concept

A charismatic leader or figureheads present a revolutionary approach that promises a solution for alienated and vulnerable people.

Thus we find ourselves. They’re getting ready to storm the compound down in Brisbane. The gunships are circling. Smoke is rising from the sidelines. A lone figure, vulnerable, shivering, the phrase ATTACKING MINDSET displayed prominently as a symbol, has stumbled into view and is taken aside with discretion towards an inconclusive loan stint at Derbyshire.

Do you recall the start, when optimism reigned? The initial phase, of Bazball without brains.

2. The Honeymoon Phase

Team architects guarantee a reboot, optimism ahead, love, salvation together united in belief in the big idea.

What did it represent back then? A team united feeling good. Ink. Strength. Jawlines. Confident masculinity. Admittedly, England’s players often say Bazball doesn’t actually exist, amusingly because if it doesn’t exist, what exactly did I just watch?

However, everyone understands its essence. It’s the player playing a shot so depraved it defies description. It’s the adrenaline of Ben Stokes in ultimate mode, a demeanor suggesting: pensive Nordic god, strong features, hair woven from beaver hide, genuinely raw you almost imagine to look down and notice he’s fielding on the ground shirtless and cradling a wild salmon.

It’s the batsman still being allowed speaking publicly, resembling a happy little woodland creature in a waistcoat, uttering phrases such as we are actively deconstructing the orange. Indeed, the vibe, for quite a long time, was only good energy.

3. Expansion Period

Development stage. Unity enforced through repetition of key phrases. These ideas can appear contradictory as a loyalty check.

Am I alone? The reaction, the outrage, the sense of betrayal after the first Ashes Test defeat feels overblown, too much. The performance was poor during the match, as is typical there. They were savaged in the field in a short span when tactics failed, manipulated by the opponent imitating their style effectively, responsive to the situation, a man playing with aura.

And now we have this 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, defeated via traditional methods of the pace attack, the conventional tactics of the bowler, marking achievements with a bashful smile similar to getting a pleasant gift. How will they respond?

4. External Conflict

Challenges surface from failures in the plan. But the cult cannot admit errors. It begins to thrive on hatred of the outside world.

In truth, approaching the next match, we are at an intriguing moment in the lifespan of this thing. They might succeed in Brisbane in a blur of adrenal disruption. Probably, defeat could come swiftly. Should they fail it feels like we may see the decline.

Ahead of this, there are two things to consider on the topic. In the past, at the start, of light and heat, a column appeared suggesting Bazball was a cult. There was outrage, which proved the point because everyone knows how to confirm that it’s not a closed group is when its acolytes respond with anger denying scrutiny of its truths.

What has happened recently are fascinating. It seems that hating Bazball has now become the cult. Social media is furious, disappointed commentators, images of frustrated supporters abroad cheated out of three days of cricket, reminiscent of investors demanding recourse.

Meanwhile, there is the broader context of the opponent’s mixed ingrained annoyance with the aggressive tourists, out there saying, your cherished traditions and have honed to distinguish yourselves culturally from us, it’s just a joke ultimately.

Here lies the truth. All movements are similar. The style was a trend since the sport itself is insular. Or rather, the team has long been exclusive, a group, an elite gathering, an insular community with a long history of ceremonial past supporting it. This has always been where influence is guarded. It’s the British pastime of the nation, the pioneering brand. And notably, the country is a phenomenon, a series of esoteric hierarchies, a royal family remains.

England’s cricketers have been isolated in this system since childhood. Seeking change, to foster positivity, they are just repeating their own experience, building another enclosure, a closed circle, but now with a new team and a coach who wants you to be yourself if you fit the mold.

Stay present. Run towards the danger. However much you change, you’re always basically in the same place.

Reflecting on this, it might be appropriate to offer compassion for the movement, to appreciate its good points, that are numerous. What is Bazball? Encouraging expression. Defying norms. Batting aggressively|Attacking with