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

1. The Grand Vision

A charismatic leader or figureheads introduce a revolutionary approach offering a cure for struggling players.

And so it goes. They’re getting ready to confront the system down in Brisbane. The gunships are circling. Smoke is rising from the out-houses. One individual, vulnerable, anxious, the phrase ATTACKING MINDSET written on his body in chicken blood, has stumbled through the lines and is removed under a blanket towards an inconclusive loan stint elsewhere.

Remember the start, when optimism reigned? The days of Bazball 1.0, of pure instinct.

2. The Honeymoon Phase

Movement founders guarantee a fresh beginning, optimism ahead, love, redemption within a community with shared faith in the method.

What was this thing back then? Players celebrating basking in glory. Tattoos. Muscles. Jawlines. Peak performance vibes. Oh sure, England’s players insist it’s not a real term, which is funny since it’s not recognized, what did we see?

But we know what it is. It’s the batsman attempting a move so unconventional it defies description. It’s the excitement of Ben Stokes in ultimate mode, an expression conveying: thoughtful warrior, rugged appearance, untamed style, truly contemporary you half-expect to glance over and notice he’s fielding on the ground shirtless and cradling a wild salmon.

It’s Ben Duckett continuing to have permission to talk in press conferences, out there looking like a happy little woodland creature formally attired, saying stuff like we are actively deconstructing the orange. Certainly, the atmosphere, initially, was entirely positive.

3. Expansion Period

Growth phase. Unity enforced via memorization of the cult’s slogans. These ideas can appear contradictory to prove commitment.

Am I alone? The backlash, the anger, the sense of betrayal following the initial loss appears excessive, overdone. The batting collapsed during the match, as they often do in Australia. They were torn apart defensively during a brief period as the bowling and captaincy fell apart, outplayed by the batsman batting like England but better, adaptive to conditions, a performer excelling with a kind of light around him.

Now there is the attacks, the rage, the view of the sport as a kind of abomination. The opinion suggests that defeat must be total, they must be humbled, to be scoured, flame-throwered, defeated through sheer skill of the bowler’s action, the conventional tactics of the veteran, out there celebrating his wickets with a bashful smile as if receiving a nice new fishing rod. How will they respond?

4. The Backlash Phase

Issues emerge because of mistakes. Yet, mistakes are denied. It turns to hatred of the outside world.

The fact remains, half a week out the upcoming game, we have now reached an intriguing moment in the story of this movement. Victory is possible overseas with bold tactics. Alternatively, they could lose just as quickly. Should they fail it feels like we could be witnessing the decline.

Ahead of this, several aspects worth saying about this. Previously, back in those heady early days, of light and heat, a column appeared suggesting Bazball was a cult. People were very angry, which proved the point because everyone knows a method to show lack of cult status is should followers react defensively rejecting criticism of the philosophy.

The developments recently is just as interesting. Opposition to the style is now the trend. Online outrage is widespread, angry English pundits, images of frustrated supporters abroad cheated out of three days of cricket, reminiscent of people wanting fairness.

On the other hand, we have the wider backdrop of the opponent’s mixed more culturally hard-wired exasperation at these weirdly passive-aggressive buccaneers, out there saying, your cherished traditions and have fostered and nurtured as part of your identity from others, well, it’s all a bit of a gag ultimately.

Here lies the truth. It’s all cults. The approach was a phenomenon since the sport itself is insular. Or rather, English cricket has always been a cult, a clique, a private event, a restricted environment with centuries of opaque and ritualistic cult history defining it. It has long been where entry is limited. It’s the imperial sport of England, the pioneering brand. And surprisingly, the nation has its own culture, a system of unknown levels, a monarchy still exists.

England’s cricketers have been enclosed in this environment from a young age. Attempting to break free, to create a less brutal environment, they are mirroring their own experience, creating another a bubble, an exclusive group, but now with 15 cool guys and a leader promoting authenticity if you fit the mold.

Stay present. Confront risks. However much you change, things stay similar.

Reflecting on this, it is perhaps the moment to have some sympathy for the movement, to appreciate its good points, of which there are many. What is Bazball? Encouraging expression. Challenging orthodoxies. Batting aggressively|Attacking with