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The Journey of a Cult tends to be characterized by clear stages.

1. The Big Idea

An inspiring figure or coaches present a new and transcendent idea that promises a solution for alienated and vulnerable people.

And so it goes. Preparations are underway to storm the compound in Australia. Pressure is mounting. Conflict emerges from the out-houses. A lone figure, vulnerable, anxious, the words HIGH RELEASE POINT smeared across his chest as a statement, has come staggering from the field and is taken aside under a blanket towards an inconclusive loan stint at Derbyshire.

Do you recall the start, when the world was still young? The days of Bazball 1.0, of pure instinct.

2. Initial Adoration

Team architects guarantee a reboot, hope for a future, support, success within a community united in belief in the philosophy.

What did it represent at first? Players celebrating enjoying success. Body art. Muscles. Focus. Peak performance vibes. Oh sure, The team insist it’s not a real term, amusingly as it’s denied, what exactly did I just watch?

However, everyone understands what it is. It’s the batsman playing a shot so unconventional it defies description. It’s the thrill of Ben Stokes in his final form, an expression conveying: pensive Nordic god, strong features, hair woven from beaver hide, genuinely raw you half-expect to glance over and see him playing in the field stripped to the waist holding a fish.

It’s the opener still being allowed to talk in press conferences, resembling a happy little woodland creature formally attired, saying stuff like we’re challenging norms. Indeed, the vibe, initially, was uplifting.

3. Expansion Period

Building period. Unity enforced by rote learning of the cult’s slogans. These principles can appear contradictory as a test of “true belief”.

Does anyone else feel? The reaction, the outrage, the disappointment post-defeat seems too strong, overdone. The performance was poor in Perth, as is typical there. They were torn apart in the field for a couple of hours when tactics failed, outplayed by Travis Head imitating their style effectively, responsive to the situation, a performer excelling with brilliance.

And now we have this the criticism, the rage, the perception of the team as a failure. The consensus is that defeat must be total, they need to lose righteously, to be cleansed, flame-throwered, overwhelmed by the vengeful purity of the bowler’s action, the low-fi orthodoxies of the bowler, out there celebrating achievements with a bashful smile as if receiving a rewarding prize. What impact will this have?

4. Hate Bonding

Issues emerge because of mistakes. However, faults are ignored. It turns to anger towards critics.

In truth, a few days before from the second Test, we are at a delicious point of tension in the story of this movement. Victory is possible in Brisbane through aggressive play. Probably, defeat could come swiftly. Should they fail it appears we could be witnessing the death cult phase.

Ahead of this, several aspects to consider regarding this. More than two years ago, back in those heady early days, of passion and hope, an piece was published calling it a phenomenon. People were very angry, which demonstrated since it’s clear the best way of proving that it’s not a closed group is if supporters respond with anger denying scrutiny of the philosophy.

The developments lately are equally notable. Opposition to the style has turned into a movement. Social media is furious, angry English pundits, pictures of upset followers overseas disappointed by the short match, like a room full of investors demanding recourse.

Conversely, we have the wider backdrop of the opponent’s mixed more culturally hard-wired exasperation at these weirdly passive-aggressive buccaneers, stating, the methods you value and have fostered and nurtured as one way of separating yourself culturally from us, it’s not serious ultimately.

Here lies the truth. All movements are similar. The approach was a phenomenon as the game has its own culture. Or at least, English cricket has always been a cult, a clique, an elite gathering, a restricted environment with a long history of opaque and ritualistic cult history 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 guess what, Britain is itself a cult, a system of unknown levels, a place that literally still has a king.

The team have been isolated in this environment for years. In trying to escape from it, to create a less brutal environment, they are mirroring their upbringing, creating another a bubble, a limited community, however with a new team and a leader encouraging individuality provided you conform.

Stay present. Confront risks. But no matter how fast and far you run, you remain stuck.

Considering this, now is the time to have some sympathy for the movement, to appreciate its good points, that are numerous. How to define it? Creating a sense of freedom. Defying norms. Batting aggressively|Attacking with