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

1. The Big Idea

A charismatic leader or leaders introduce an innovative concept pledging a solution for struggling players.

Thus we find ourselves. They’re getting ready to challenge the establishment overseas. The gunships are circling. Smoke is rising from the sidelines. One individual, exposed, shivering, the phrase ATTACKING MINDSET written on his body in chicken blood, has come staggering through the lines and is being led away under a blanket for a temporary assignment at Derbyshire.

Remember the start, when the world was still young? The initial phase, of uninhibited aggression.

2. Love-Bombing

Team architects offer a fresh beginning, optimism ahead, support, success within a community united in belief in the big idea.

How did it feel initially? Players celebrating enjoying success. Ink. Muscles. Focus. Confident masculinity. Admittedly, The team insist they don’t use the label, amusingly since it’s not recognized, what exactly did I just watch?

Yet it’s clear the concept. It’s the player executing a stroke so depraved it’s beyond belief. It’s the thrill of Ben Stokes in his final form, an expression conveying: focused titan, rugged appearance, hair woven from beaver hide, so authentically Modern Savage you almost imagine to look down and find him positioned in the field shirtless and cradling a wild salmon.

It’s the opener still being allowed speaking publicly, resembling a cheerful animal smartly dressed, uttering phrases such as we’re breaking down traditions. Certainly, the atmosphere, for a significant period, was uplifting.

3. A New Life

Building period. Cohesion maintained through repetition of key phrases. These beliefs can appear contradictory as a test of “true belief”.

Does anyone else feel? The backlash, the fury, the sense of betrayal following the initial loss appears excessive, unwarranted. England batted badly on the field, as history shows. They were savaged defensively for a couple of hours as the bowling and captaincy fell apart, outplayed by Travis Head imitating their style effectively, adjusting to the pitch, an athlete shining with aura.

Now there is the pile-on, the frustration, the perception of the team as a disgrace. The consensus is that defeat must be total, they must be humbled, to be scoured, flame-throwered, overwhelmed through sheer skill of the bowler’s action, the conventional tactics of Scott Boland, seen enjoying his wickets humbly like he’s just been given a nice new fishing rod. What impact will this have?

4. Hate Bonding

Challenges surface due to setbacks. But the cult cannot admit errors. It begins to thrive on anger towards critics.

The fact remains, half a week out the upcoming game, we are at a delicious point of tension in the journey of this thing. England could quite easily win in Brisbane through aggressive play. More likely, defeat could come swiftly. And if they do lose it appears we really might be entering the death cult phase.

Ahead of this, a couple of points to consider on the topic. Previously, back in those heady early days, of optimism and energy, I wrote an article calling it a phenomenon. There was outrage, which was helpful as it’s known a method to show lack of cult status is if supporters send hundreds of furiously one-eyed messages denying scrutiny of the beliefs.

Recent events recently are equally notable. Opposition to the style has turned into a movement. We have a uniformly angry internet, angry English pundits, images of frustrated travelling fans disappointed by the short match, reminiscent of people wanting fairness.

Meanwhile, we have the wider backdrop of the host’s complex deep-seated frustration towards the unconventional visitors, out there saying, the methods you value and have honed to distinguish yourselves culturally from us, well, it’s all a bit of a gag in the end old boy.

This is the core issue. Everything is a cult. The approach was a phenomenon as the game has its own culture. Or at least, the sport in England is closed, a group, a private event, a restricted environment with two hundred years of tradition and mystery behind it. Historically, this was a place where power and access are hoarded. It’s the British pastime of the British, the original sports washers. And surprisingly, the country is a phenomenon, a series of esoteric hierarchies, a royal family remains.

The players have been enclosed within this world since childhood. Attempting to break free, to create a less brutal environment, they are simply replicating their own experience, creating another a bubble, an exclusive group, but doing it this time with a modern squad and a leader who wants you to be yourself if you fit the mold.

Stay present. Run towards the danger. But no matter how fast and far you run, things stay similar.

With this mind, it is perhaps the moment to show understanding for the movement, to recognize its positives, of which there are many. What is Bazball? Creating a sense of freedom. Questioning traditions. Batting aggressively|Attacking with