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The Journey of a Phenomenon can be characterized by distinct phases.

1. The Big Idea

A dominant personality or leaders introduce an innovative concept offering a panacea for struggling players.

And so it goes. Preparations are underway to challenge the establishment overseas. Pressure is mounting. Signs of trouble appear from the out-houses. One individual, exposed, anxious, the slogan POSITIVE INTENT written on his body as a symbol, has emerged through the lines and is removed with discretion to a different team in county cricket.

Remember the early days, when the world was still young? The era of early Bazball, of uninhibited aggression.

2. Love-Bombing

Cult leaders offer a fresh beginning, optimism ahead, love, redemption among a group united in belief in the method.

What was this thing at first? A team united basking in glory. Ink. Strength. Focus. Confident masculinity. Oh sure, The squad insist Bazball doesn’t actually exist, which is funny since it’s not recognized, what exactly did I just watch?

Yet it’s clear what it is. It’s Harry Brook executing a stroke so depraved it defies description. It’s the thrill of the leader at his peak, a look that says: focused titan, beard made of wood, natural look, so authentically Modern Savage you half-expect to look down and find him positioned at mid-off bare-chested embracing nature.

It’s Ben Duckett continuing to have permission speaking publicly, resembling a happy little woodland creature smartly dressed, expressing thoughts like we are actively deconstructing the orange. Indeed, the energy, for quite a long time, was uplifting.

3. The Growth Phase

Building period. Togetherness strengthened through repetition of the cult’s slogans. These principles can appear contradictory to prove commitment.

Am I alone? The reaction, the outrage, the sense of betrayal following the initial loss seems too strong, too much. England batted badly in Perth, as history shows. They were dominated in the field for a couple of hours as the bowling and captaincy fell apart, carved around by the opponent batting like England but better, adaptive to conditions, an athlete shining with brilliance.

Now there is the criticism, the frustration, the sense of English Test cricket as a disgrace. The feeling seems to be that losing isn’t enough, they should be dismantled, to be cleansed, flame-throwered, overwhelmed via traditional methods of the bowler’s action, the low-fi orthodoxies of the bowler, seen enjoying achievements modestly as if receiving a rewarding prize. What will this do to them?

4. The Backlash Phase

Challenges surface from failures in the plan. But the cult cannot admit errors. It turns to anger towards critics.

The fact remains, a few days before from the second Test, we are at an intriguing moment in the lifespan of this movement. England could quite easily win overseas with bold tactics. Probably, they could lose just as quickly. And if they do lose it seems we really might be entering the death cult phase.

Prior to that, several aspects to consider regarding this. Previously, during the initial excitement, of light and heat, I wrote an article calling it a phenomenon. People were very angry, which proved the point because everyone knows how to confirm something definitely isn’t a cult is when its acolytes react defensively denying scrutiny of its truths.

The developments lately are equally notable. Opposition to the style is now the trend. We have a uniformly angry internet, critical analysts, pictures of upset supporters abroad disappointed by the short match, similar to people wanting fairness.

Conversely, we have the wider backdrop of the host’s complex more culturally hard-wired exasperation at these weirdly passive-aggressive buccaneers, out there saying, hey, that thing you love and have honed as one way of separating yourself from the opposition, it’s not serious after all.

And this is the real point. Everything is a cult. The approach was a phenomenon since the sport itself is insular. Or at least, the sport in England is closed, a circle, a private event, an insular community with centuries of tradition and mystery supporting it. This has always been where influence is guarded. It’s the British pastime of the nation, the original sports washers. And surprisingly, Britain is itself a cult, a series of esoteric hierarchies, a place that literally still has a king.

The players have been isolated within this world for years. Attempting to break free, to foster positivity, they are just repeating their past, forming a new circle, a closed circle, but doing it this time with 15 cool guys and a mentor promoting authenticity provided you conform.

Live where your feet are. Embrace challenges. But no matter how fast and far you run, you’re always basically in the same place.

Considering this, it might be appropriate to show understanding for Bazball, to recognize its positives, of which there are many. What is Bazball? Creating a sense of freedom. Questioning traditions. Batting aggressively|Attacking with