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

1. The Grand Vision

A dominant personality or figureheads introduce a revolutionary approach pledging a cure for alienated and vulnerable people.

And so it goes. Preparations are underway to storm the compound down in Brisbane. Tensions are rising. Smoke is rising from within. An isolated player, exposed, anxious, the slogan POSITIVE INTENT displayed prominently as a symbol, has stumbled through the lines and is removed under a blanket for a temporary assignment elsewhere.

Remember the start, when everything was fresh? The initial phase, of pure instinct.

2. The Honeymoon Phase

Cult leaders promise a fresh beginning, hope for a future, camaraderie, redemption within a community united in belief in the method.

What was this thing initially? Just men on a balcony enjoying success. Body art. Muscles. Jawlines. Peak performance vibes. Admittedly, The team insist they don’t use the label, ironically since it’s not recognized, what was that spectacle?

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 leader at his peak, a demeanor suggesting: focused titan, strong features, natural look, truly contemporary you half-expect to notice and notice he’s fielding on the ground bare-chested and cradling a wild salmon.

It’s the opener often seen addressing the media, appearing as a cheerful animal in a waistcoat, saying stuff like we’re challenging norms. Certainly, the vibe, for quite a long time, was uplifting.

3. Expansion Period

Growth phase. Unity enforced by rote learning of key phrases. These ideas may seem irrational as a loyalty check.

Am I alone? The criticism, the fury, the feeling of letdown following the initial loss appears excessive, overdone. England batted badly on the field, as is typical there. They were dominated in the field in a short span as plans unraveled, carved around by Travis Head batting like England but better, adaptive to conditions, a man playing with brilliance.

Now there is the criticism, the frustration, the perception of the team as a failure. The opinion suggests that England don’t just need to lose, they must be humbled, to be purged, flame-throwered, destroyed by the vengeful purity of the pace attack, the conventional tactics of the veteran, marking his wickets with a bashful smile like he’s just been given a pleasant gift. What impact will this have?

4. The Backlash Phase

Challenges surface because of mistakes. Yet, mistakes are denied. It turns to hatred of the outside world.

The fact remains, approaching from the second Test, we have now reached a delicious point of tension in the lifespan of this approach. Victory is possible in Brisbane through aggressive play. More likely, defeat could come swiftly. And if they do lose it feels like we could be witnessing the death cult phase.

Ahead of this, there are two things to consider on the topic. Previously, at the start, of passion and hope, a column appeared labeling it a movement. There was outrage, which demonstrated as it’s known a method to show that it’s not a closed group is when its acolytes respond with anger rejecting criticism of the philosophy.

The developments in the last few days are equally notable. It seems that hating Bazball is now the trend. We have a uniformly angry internet, angry English pundits, pictures of upset travelling fans missing out on play, similar to people wanting fairness.

Meanwhile, there is the broader context of Australia’s more nuanced ingrained annoyance at these weirdly passive-aggressive buccaneers, out there saying, the methods you value and have honed to distinguish yourselves from the opposition, well, it’s all a bit of a gag in the end old boy.

And this is the real point. It’s all cults. The style was a trend since the sport itself is insular. Or rather, the sport in England is closed, a clique, an elite gathering, a closed world with a long history of ceremonial past defining it. It has long been where influence is guarded. It’s the imperial sport of England, the early image-makers. And guess what, the country is a phenomenon, a system of unknown levels, a monarchy still exists.

England’s cricketers have been enclosed within this world from a young age. Attempting to break free, to create a less brutal environment, they are simply replicating their past, forming a new circle, a limited community, but now with a new team and a leader promoting authenticity as long as yourself is quite a lot like myself.

Live where your feet are. Run towards the danger. However much you change, you remain stuck.

With this mind, it is perhaps the moment to show understanding for the movement, to acknowledge its merits, of which there are many. What does it represent? Promoting liberation. Defying norms. Batting aggressively|Attacking with