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The Life Cycle of a Phenomenon is often marked by clear stages.

1. The Core Concept

A dominant personality or figureheads propose a new and transcendent idea that promises a cure for struggling players.

Thus we find ourselves. Plans are in motion to challenge the establishment overseas. Tensions are rising. Signs of trouble appear from the out-houses. An isolated player, exposed, anxious, the slogan POSITIVE INTENT smeared across his chest as a statement, has come staggering into view and is being led away with discretion to a different team at Derbyshire.

Do you ever miss the early days, when the world was still young? The era of early Bazball, of Bazball without brains.

2. The Honeymoon Phase

Cult leaders guarantee a new start, optimism ahead, support, redemption among a group with shared faith in the philosophy.

How did it feel initially? Players celebrating feeling good. Body art. Forearms. Jawlines. Elite male wellness energy. Of course, England’s players often say they don’t use the label, ironically as it’s denied, what exactly did I just watch?

But we know its essence. It’s the batsman executing a stroke so unconventional it’s beyond belief. It’s the thrill of the captain in his final form, a look that says: pensive Nordic god, strong features, natural look, so authentically Modern Savage you almost imagine to glance over and see him playing in the field bare-chested holding a fish.

It’s Ben Duckett continuing to have permission speaking publicly, appearing as a joyful figure formally attired, uttering phrases such as we’re breaking down traditions. Indeed, the energy, initially, was uplifting.

3. A New Life

Development stage. Cohesion maintained by rote learning of mantras. These beliefs may seem irrational to prove commitment.

Is it just me? The reaction, the anger, the feeling of letdown post-defeat seems too strong, too much. The batting collapsed during the match, as they often do in Australia. They were torn apart while bowling in a short span when tactics failed, carved around by Travis Head imitating their style effectively, responsive to the situation, an athlete shining with a kind of light around him.

Now there is the criticism, the anger, the sense of English Test cricket as a failure. The opinion suggests that losing isn’t enough, they must be humbled, to be purged, obliterated, overwhelmed via traditional methods of Mitchell Starc’s movements, the low-fi orthodoxies of the veteran, seen enjoying successes modestly like he’s just been given a pleasant gift. What will this do to them?

4. The Backlash Phase

Challenges surface from failures in the plan. Yet, mistakes are denied. It starts to feed on anger towards critics.

In truth, a few days before from the second Test, we’ve entered an intriguing moment in the journey of this thing. They might succeed in Brisbane in a blur of adrenal disruption. More likely, defeat could come swiftly. Should they fail it seems we may see the death cult phase.

Prior to that, there are two things to consider about this. Previously, during the initial excitement, of optimism and energy, an piece was published calling it a phenomenon. People were very angry, which proved the point since it’s clear a method to show something definitely isn’t a cult is when its acolytes send hundreds of furiously one-eyed messages rejecting criticism of the beliefs.

What has happened recently is just as interesting. Opposition to the style has now become the cult. Online outrage is widespread, disappointed commentators, images of frustrated supporters abroad missing out on play, similar to people wanting fairness.

Meanwhile, there is the broader context of the opponent’s mixed ingrained annoyance towards the unconventional visitors, claiming, hey, that thing you love and have honed as one way of separating yourself culturally from us, well, it’s all a bit of a gag ultimately.

This is the core issue. It’s all cults. Bazball was a cult as the game has its own culture. Or rather, the team has long been exclusive, a group, a private event, a restricted environment with two hundred years of opaque and ritualistic cult history behind it. Historically, this was where entry is limited. It’s the imperial sport of England, the pioneering brand. And surprisingly, the country is a phenomenon, a series of esoteric hierarchies, a place that literally still has a king.

The team 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 past, building another enclosure, an exclusive group, but now with a modern squad and a coach promoting authenticity provided you conform.

Live where your feet are. Confront risks. However much you change, you’re always basically in the same place.

With this mind, it might be appropriate to show understanding for Bazball, to appreciate its good points, of which there are many. What is Bazball? Promoting liberation. Challenging orthodoxies. Batting aggressively|Attacking with