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The Evolution of a Movement is often defined by specific steps.

1. The Grand Vision

A charismatic leader or figureheads propose an innovative concept offering a cure for disconnected individuals.

Thus we find ourselves. They’re getting ready to storm the compound overseas. Pressure is mounting. Signs of trouble appear from the sidelines. One individual, naked, anxious, the slogan POSITIVE INTENT smeared across his chest in chicken blood, has stumbled through the lines and is being led away under a blanket for a temporary assignment in county cricket.

Do you ever miss the start, when everything was fresh? The initial phase, of pure instinct.

2. The Honeymoon Phase

Cult leaders offer a reboot, a brighter tomorrow, love, redemption within a community united in belief in the philosophy.

What was this thing initially? A team united feeling good. Body art. Strength. Jawlines. Confident masculinity. Of course, The team insist Bazball doesn’t actually exist, ironically as it’s denied, what was that spectacle?

However, everyone understands what it is. It’s Harry Brook playing a shot so outrageous it’s beyond belief. It’s the excitement of the leader at his peak, an expression conveying: focused titan, beard made of wood, untamed style, genuinely raw you half-expect to glance over and find him positioned in the field stripped to the waist and cradling a wild salmon.

It’s the opener continuing to have permission speaking publicly, appearing as a happy little woodland creature smartly dressed, uttering phrases such as we’re breaking down traditions. Certainly, the atmosphere, for a significant period, was only good energy.

3. Expansion Period

Development stage. Cohesion maintained via memorization of mantras. These principles are often illogical to prove commitment.

Does anyone else feel? The backlash, the fury, the feeling of letdown post-defeat appears excessive, overdone. England batted badly on the field, as they often do in Australia. They were torn apart defensively for a couple of hours as the bowling and captaincy fell apart, carved around by the opponent playing aggressively but smarter, adjusting to the pitch, a performer excelling with brilliance.

Now there is the pile-on, the rage, the perception of the team as a failure. The feeling seems to be that England don’t just need to lose, they need to lose righteously, to be scoured, flame-throwered, overwhelmed via traditional methods of the pace attack, the simple basics of Scott Boland, marking successes modestly like he’s just been given a pleasant gift. What impact will this have?

4. Hate Bonding

Problems arise due to setbacks. However, faults are ignored. It turns to anger towards critics.

Ultimately, half a week out from the second Test, we have now reached an intriguing moment in the lifespan of this movement. Victory is possible in Brisbane in a blur of adrenal disruption. More likely, they could lose just as quickly. Should they fail it appears we may see the decline.

Ahead of this, there are two things worth saying regarding this. Previously, during the initial excitement, of optimism and energy, I wrote an article suggesting Bazball was a cult. People were very angry, which proved the point since it’s clear the best way of proving that it’s not a closed group is when its acolytes send hundreds of furiously one-eyed messages rejecting criticism of the beliefs.

What has happened in the last few days are fascinating. Opposition to the style is now the trend. Social media is furious, disappointed commentators, shots of angry middle-aged travelling fans missing out on play, reminiscent of timeshare owners seeking justice.

Meanwhile, there is the broader context of Australia’s more nuanced deep-seated frustration towards the unconventional visitors, out there saying, hey, that thing you love and have honed to distinguish yourselves from others, it’s not serious after all.

Here lies the truth. It’s all cults. The style was a trend because cricket is a cult. Or at least, English cricket has always been a cult, a circle, a private event, a closed world with two hundred years of tradition and mystery defining it. It has long been a place where power and access are hoarded. It’s the British pastime of England, the original sports washers. And notably, Britain is itself a cult, a series of esoteric hierarchies, a place that literally still has a king.

England’s cricketers have been enclosed in this system since childhood. In trying to escape from it, to create a less brutal environment, they are simply replicating their own experience, building another enclosure, a limited community, but doing it this time with a modern squad and a mentor promoting authenticity provided you conform.

Live where your feet are. Confront risks. However much you change, you remain stuck.

Considering this, it is perhaps the moment to have some sympathy for Bazball, to recognize its positives, which are significant. How to define it? Creating a sense of freedom. Challenging orthodoxies. Batting aggressively|Attacking with