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The Evolution of a Phenomenon is often marked by distinct phases.

1. The Big Idea

A charismatic leader or leaders introduce a new and transcendent idea offering a panacea for disconnected individuals.

Thus we find ourselves. Plans are in motion to storm the compound overseas. The gunships are circling. Conflict emerges from within. An isolated player, naked, nervous, the words HIGH RELEASE POINT displayed prominently in chicken blood, has emerged into view and is taken aside with discretion for a temporary assignment at Derbyshire.

Do you ever miss the beginning, when everything was fresh? The days of Bazball 1.0, of pure instinct.

2. Love-Bombing

Cult leaders guarantee a fresh beginning, optimism ahead, love, success within a community who all believe in the big idea.

What was this thing at first? A team united basking in glory. Tattoos. Muscles. Jawlines. Elite male wellness energy. Of course, The squad often say Bazball doesn’t actually exist, which is funny since it’s not recognized, what was that spectacle?

But we know what it is. It’s the batsman executing a stroke so unconventional it’s beyond belief. It’s the excitement of Ben Stokes in ultimate mode, a look that says: focused titan, rugged appearance, untamed style, genuinely raw you half-expect to notice and find him positioned in the field shirtless and cradling a wild salmon.

It’s the opener often seen speaking publicly, resembling a cheerful animal smartly dressed, uttering phrases such as we’re breaking down traditions. Indeed, the energy, for quite a long time, was uplifting.

3. Expansion Period

Growth phase. Unity enforced through repetition of mantras. These ideas may seem irrational as a loyalty check.

Am I alone? The reaction, the anger, the feeling of letdown post-defeat feels overblown, overdone. England batted badly during the match, as history shows. They were torn apart defensively for a couple of hours as plans unraveled, manipulated by Travis Head playing aggressively but smarter, adjusting to the pitch, an athlete shining with aura.

Now there is the criticism, the rage, the view of the sport as a kind of abomination. The opinion suggests that England don’t just need to lose, they should be dismantled, to be cleansed, destroyed, overwhelmed via traditional methods of the bowler’s action, the simple basics of Scott Boland, seen enjoying achievements humbly like he’s just been given a pleasant gift. What impact will this have?

4. The Backlash Phase

Issues emerge because of mistakes. However, faults are ignored. It begins to thrive on hostility externally.

The fact remains, a few days before the upcoming game, we have now reached a critical juncture in the journey of this approach. England could quite easily win in Brisbane in a blur of adrenal disruption. More likely, defeat could come swiftly. Should they fail it feels like we really might be entering the death cult phase.

Ahead of this, there are two things to note regarding this. More than two years ago, at the start, of optimism and energy, I wrote an article calling it a phenomenon. There was outrage, which was helpful because everyone knows the best way of proving something definitely isn’t a cult is should followers react defensively objecting to the questioning of its truths.

Recent events in the last few days are fascinating. Criticism of the approach has turned into a movement. Social media is furious, angry English pundits, pictures of upset supporters abroad cheated out of three days of cricket, reminiscent of people wanting fairness.

On the other hand, we have the wider backdrop of the host’s complex ingrained annoyance towards the unconventional visitors, stating, hey, that thing you love and have developed as one way of separating yourself from the opposition, it’s not serious in the end old boy.

Here lies the truth. Everything is a cult. Bazball was a cult as the game has its own culture. Or at least, the team has long been exclusive, a circle, an elite gathering, an insular community with centuries of opaque and ritualistic cult history supporting it. This has always been where influence is guarded. It’s the colonial game of the British, the original sports washers. And surprisingly, the country is a phenomenon, a structure of hidden ranks, a place that literally still has a king.

England’s cricketers have been isolated in this environment for years. Attempting to break free, to create a less brutal environment, they are just repeating their past, building another enclosure, a closed circle, however with 15 cool guys and a leader promoting authenticity if you fit the mold.

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

Reflecting on this, now is the time to have some sympathy for the approach, to recognize its positives, that are numerous. How to define it? Encouraging expression. Defying norms. Batting aggressively|Attacking with