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The Journey of a Phenomenon is often defined by clear stages.

1. The Big Idea

An inspiring figure or coaches present a revolutionary approach pledging a panacea for struggling players.

Thus we find ourselves. They’re getting ready to storm the compound down in Brisbane. Tensions are rising. Signs of trouble appear from within. A lone figure, vulnerable, shivering, the phrase ATTACKING MINDSET smeared across his chest as a symbol, has come staggering into view and is removed with discretion to a different team elsewhere.

Do you recall the early days, when optimism reigned? The era of early Bazball, of pure instinct.

2. The Honeymoon Phase

Movement founders promise a new start, hope for a future, camaraderie, success among a group with shared faith in the big idea.

How did it feel at first? A team united feeling good. Tattoos. Strength. Jawlines. Peak performance vibes. Of course, The team will claim it’s not a real term, amusingly because if it doesn’t exist, what was that spectacle?

Yet it’s clear what it is. It’s the batsman playing a shot so outrageous it has to be pixelated. It’s the adrenaline of Ben Stokes in his final form, a look that says: thoughtful warrior, rugged appearance, hair woven from beaver hide, truly contemporary you half-expect to look down and find him positioned at mid-off shirtless holding a fish.

It’s the opener often seen addressing the media, out there looking like a cheerful animal smartly dressed, saying stuff like we’re challenging norms. Indeed, the atmosphere, for a significant period, was uplifting.

3. A New Life

Development stage. Unity enforced by rote learning of mantras. These ideas are often illogical as a test of “true belief”.

Am I alone? The reaction, the outrage, the sense of betrayal following the initial loss seems too strong, too much. The batting collapsed in Perth, as history shows. They were dominated in the field for a couple of hours as the bowling and captaincy fell apart, carved around by the batsman batting like England but better, adaptive to conditions, an athlete shining with a kind of light around him.

Now there is the attacks, the frustration, the perception of the team as a disgrace. The consensus is that England don’t just need to lose, they should be dismantled, to be cleansed, obliterated, overwhelmed via traditional methods of the bowler’s action, the simple basics of the veteran, out there celebrating achievements humbly like he’s just been given a rewarding prize. How will they respond?

4. The Backlash Phase

Challenges surface due to setbacks. But the cult cannot admit errors. It turns to anger towards critics.

Ultimately, approaching the upcoming game, we’ve entered a critical juncture in the story of this approach. England could quite easily win overseas through aggressive play. Probably, they could lose just as quickly. Should they fail it seems we could be witnessing the death cult phase.

Ahead of this, several aspects worth saying about this. More than two years ago, back in those heady early days, of light and heat, an piece was published labeling it a movement. People were very angry, which was helpful as it’s known how to confirm lack of cult status is when its acolytes send hundreds of furiously one-eyed messages objecting to the questioning of the philosophy.

The developments in the last few days are equally notable. Opposition to the style is now the trend. We have a uniformly angry internet, disappointed commentators, shots of angry middle-aged travelling fans cheated out of three days of cricket, like a room full of investors demanding recourse.

On the other hand, we have the wider backdrop of Australia’s more nuanced deep-seated frustration towards the unconventional visitors, out there saying, hey, that thing you love and have honed as one way of separating yourself culturally from us, it’s just a joke after all.

And this is the real point. Everything is a cult. Bazball was a cult as the game has its own culture. Or rather, the team has long been exclusive, a group, a private event, an insular community with two hundred years of tradition and mystery defining it. Historically, this was a place where power and access are hoarded. It’s the imperial sport of the nation, the pioneering brand. And guess what, the country is a phenomenon, a system of unknown levels, a royal family remains.

The players have been isolated within this world for years. In trying to escape from it, to create a less brutal environment, they are simply replicating their upbringing, building another enclosure, an exclusive group, but doing it this time with a new team and a leader encouraging individuality provided you conform.

Focus on the moment. Embrace challenges. Despite efforts, things stay similar.

Reflecting on this, now is the time to show understanding for the movement, to recognize its positives, which are significant. How to define it? Creating a sense of freedom. Challenging orthodoxies. Batting aggressively|Attacking with