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The Journey of a Phenomenon is often defined by distinct phases.

1. The Core Concept

A charismatic leader or coaches present a revolutionary approach that promises a solution for struggling players.

Thus we find ourselves. Plans are in motion to challenge the establishment overseas. Tensions are rising. Conflict emerges from within. An isolated player, vulnerable, shivering, the slogan POSITIVE INTENT smeared across his chest in chicken blood, has emerged through the lines and is taken aside with discretion to a different team in county cricket.

Remember the start, when optimism reigned? The days of Bazball 1.0, of uninhibited aggression.

2. Love-Bombing

Team architects offer a new start, hope for a future, love, salvation within a community united in belief in the philosophy.

What did it represent initially? A team united enjoying success. Body art. Forearms. Focus. Elite male wellness energy. Oh sure, The squad will claim they don’t use the label, ironically because if it doesn’t exist, what did we see?

But we know what it is. It’s the batsman executing a stroke so unconventional it defies description. It’s the adrenaline of the captain at his peak, a look that says: thoughtful warrior, beard made of wood, untamed style, truly contemporary you almost imagine to glance over and find him positioned at mid-off stripped to the waist and cradling a wild salmon.

It’s the batsman still being allowed to talk in press conferences, resembling a happy little woodland creature in a waistcoat, uttering phrases such as we’re challenging norms. Certainly, the vibe, for a significant period, was entirely positive.

3. A New Life

Development stage. Cohesion maintained by rote learning of the cult’s slogans. These ideas may seem irrational as a test of “true belief”.

Am I alone? The backlash, the anger, the disappointment post-defeat appears excessive, overdone. The batting collapsed in Perth, as is typical there. They were savaged defensively for a couple of hours when tactics failed, outplayed by the opponent batting like England but better, adjusting to the pitch, a performer excelling with a kind of light around him.

Now there is the attacks, the anger, the view of the sport as a disgrace. The feeling seems to be that losing isn’t enough, they must be humbled, to be cleansed, destroyed, defeated via traditional methods of Mitchell Starc’s movements, the conventional tactics of Scott Boland, seen enjoying achievements modestly as if receiving a rewarding prize. What impact will this have?

4. External Conflict

Challenges surface due to setbacks. But the cult cannot admit errors. It begins to thrive on hatred of the outside world.

Ultimately, approaching from the second Test, we have now reached an intriguing moment in the journey of this approach. Victory is possible in Brisbane through aggressive play. Alternatively, failure may follow. Should they fail it feels like we really might be entering the decline.

Ahead of this, a couple of points to consider about this. In the past, during the initial excitement, of passion and hope, I wrote an article calling it a phenomenon. There was outrage, which proved the point as it’s known how to confirm something definitely isn’t a cult is when its acolytes send hundreds of furiously one-eyed messages objecting to the questioning of the beliefs.

What has happened recently are fascinating. It seems that hating Bazball is now the trend. Social media is furious, angry English pundits, images of frustrated travelling fans missing out on play, like a room full of people wanting fairness.

Meanwhile, there is the broader context of the host’s complex more culturally hard-wired exasperation at these weirdly passive-aggressive buccaneers, claiming, your cherished traditions and have developed as one way of separating yourself culturally from us, well, it’s all a bit of a gag ultimately.

And this is the real point. 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 clique, a garden party, a restricted environment with two hundred years of ceremonial past supporting it. Historically, this was a place where power and access are hoarded. It’s the imperial sport of England, the early image-makers. And notably, the country is a phenomenon, a structure of hidden ranks, a royal family remains.

The team have been enclosed in this system for years. Seeking change, to build a better atmosphere, they are just repeating their own experience, building another enclosure, an exclusive group, but doing it this time with a new team and a leader encouraging individuality provided you conform.

Stay present. Confront risks. However much you change, you’re always basically in the same place.

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