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The Journey of a Cult is often defined by clear stages.

1. The Core Concept

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

Thus we find ourselves. Preparations are underway to confront the system in Australia. The gunships are circling. Conflict emerges from the out-houses. One individual, naked, anxious, the phrase ATTACKING MINDSET displayed prominently as a statement, has come staggering from the field and is removed with discretion to a different team in county cricket.

Do you recall the early days, when optimism reigned? The initial phase, of pure instinct.

2. The Honeymoon Phase

Movement founders guarantee a fresh beginning, hope for a future, support, redemption among a group with shared faith in the philosophy.

What was this thing initially? Just men on a balcony enjoying success. Body art. Strength. Jawlines. Peak performance vibes. Oh sure, The squad insist it’s not a real term, which is funny because if it doesn’t exist, what did we see?

But we know its essence. It’s Harry Brook playing a shot so depraved it defies description. It’s the adrenaline of the leader in his final form, a demeanor suggesting: thoughtful warrior, beard made of wood, natural look, so authentically Modern Savage you half-expect to glance over and see him playing in the field shirtless holding a fish.

It’s the batsman still being allowed addressing the media, appearing as a joyful figure smartly dressed, uttering phrases such as we’re challenging norms. And yes, the atmosphere, for a significant period, was only good energy.

3. The Growth Phase

Building period. Cohesion maintained by rote learning of key phrases. These ideas can appear contradictory to prove commitment.

Am I alone? The reaction, the fury, the feeling of letdown post-defeat feels overblown, too much. The batting collapsed on the field, as history shows. They were savaged in the field for a couple of hours when tactics failed, outplayed by Travis Head playing aggressively but smarter, responsive to the situation, an athlete shining with a kind of light around him.

Now there is the pile-on, the frustration, the sense of English Test cricket as a disgrace. The feeling seems to be that defeat must be total, they need to lose righteously, to be purged, flame-throwered, overwhelmed through sheer skill of Mitchell Starc’s movements, the conventional tactics of the veteran, out there celebrating achievements humbly similar to getting a pleasant gift. How will they respond?

4. External Conflict

Problems arise due to setbacks. However, faults are ignored. It starts to feed on anger towards critics.

The fact remains, a few days before from the second Test, we have now reached a critical juncture in the story of this approach. England could quite easily win in the next Test in a blur of adrenal disruption. More likely, failure may follow. And if they do lose it seems we really might be entering the decline.

Ahead of this, a couple of points worth saying on the topic. In the past, at the start, of passion and hope, a column appeared calling it a phenomenon. Criticism followed, which demonstrated since it’s clear the best way of proving lack of cult status is when its acolytes react defensively rejecting criticism of the beliefs.

Recent events recently is just as interesting. Opposition to the style has turned into a movement. We have a uniformly angry internet, disappointed commentators, shots of angry middle-aged followers overseas disappointed by the short match, similar to timeshare owners seeking justice.

On the other hand, we have the wider backdrop of Australia’s more nuanced ingrained annoyance towards the unconventional visitors, out there saying, your cherished traditions and have honed as part of your identity from others, well, it’s all a bit of a gag after all.

And this is the real point. It’s all cults. Bazball was a cult as the game has its own culture. Or at least, the team has long been exclusive, a group, an elite gathering, an insular community with two hundred years of ceremonial past supporting it. It has long been a place where power and access are hoarded. It’s the colonial game of the British, 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 isolated in this environment since childhood. Seeking change, to create a less brutal environment, they are mirroring their upbringing, building another enclosure, an exclusive group, however with 15 cool guys and a mentor who wants you to be yourself if you fit the mold.

Live where your feet are. Confront risks. However much you change, you’re always basically in the same place.

With this mind, it is perhaps the moment to offer compassion for the approach, to appreciate its good points, of which there are many. How to define it? Creating a sense of freedom. Questioning traditions. Batting aggressively|Attacking with