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The Journey of a Cult is often defined by distinct phases.

1. The Core Concept

A charismatic leader or coaches propose a new and transcendent idea offering a cure for alienated and vulnerable people.

So here we are. Preparations are underway to storm the compound in Australia. The gunships are circling. Smoke is rising from the out-houses. One individual, naked, nervous, the phrase ATTACKING MINDSET written on his body in chicken blood, has stumbled into view and is being led away under a blanket towards an inconclusive loan stint at Derbyshire.

Remember the early days, when optimism reigned? The era of early Bazball, of uninhibited aggression.

2. The Honeymoon Phase

Cult leaders guarantee a new start, optimism ahead, love, success within a community united in belief in the philosophy.

What was this thing initially? Players celebrating feeling good. Body art. Forearms. Jawlines. Confident masculinity. Admittedly, England’s players insist Bazball doesn’t actually exist, ironically because if it doesn’t exist, what did we see?

However, everyone understands what it is. It’s Harry Brook playing a shot so depraved it’s beyond belief. It’s the thrill of the leader at his peak, a demeanor suggesting: thoughtful warrior, rugged appearance, untamed style, truly contemporary you half-expect to notice and find him positioned on the ground shirtless embracing nature.

It’s Ben Duckett still being allowed to talk in press conferences, out there looking like a cheerful animal in a waistcoat, uttering phrases such as we’re challenging norms. Certainly, the vibe, for a significant period, was only good energy.

3. The Growth Phase

Growth phase. Cohesion maintained by rote learning of mantras. These ideas are often illogical as a test of “true belief”.

Am I alone? The criticism, the fury, the disappointment after the first Ashes Test defeat appears excessive, unwarranted. England batted badly in Perth, as history shows. They were savaged in the field in a short span as plans unraveled, outplayed by Travis Head batting like England but better, adjusting to the pitch, a man playing with a kind of light around him.

Now there is the criticism, the anger, the view of the sport as a disgrace. The feeling seems to be that losing isn’t enough, they need to lose righteously, to be purged, obliterated, defeated by the vengeful purity of the pace attack, the simple basics of the bowler, marking achievements humbly like he’s just been given a nice new fishing rod. What will this do to them?

4. External Conflict

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

In truth, approaching from the second Test, we have now reached a delicious point of tension in the lifespan of this approach. They might succeed in the next Test through aggressive play. 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 to note on the topic. Previously, back in those heady early days, of optimism and energy, an piece was published calling it a phenomenon. There was outrage, which proved the point as it’s known the best way of proving something definitely isn’t a cult is should followers respond with anger objecting to the questioning of its truths.

The developments lately are fascinating. Criticism of the approach has now become the cult. We have a uniformly angry internet, disappointed commentators, images of frustrated followers overseas cheated out of three days of cricket, like a room full of people wanting fairness.

On the other hand, there is the broader context of the opponent’s mixed more culturally hard-wired exasperation at these weirdly passive-aggressive buccaneers, stating, your cherished traditions and have fostered and nurtured to distinguish yourselves from others, it’s just a joke ultimately.

This is the core issue. Everything is a cult. The approach was a phenomenon since the sport itself is insular. In fact, the team has long been exclusive, a clique, a private event, a restricted environment with a long history of opaque and ritualistic cult history defining it. It has long been where entry is limited. It’s the imperial sport of England, the early image-makers. And surprisingly, the country is a phenomenon, a series of esoteric hierarchies, a royal family remains.

England’s cricketers have been isolated within this world from a young age. In trying to escape from it, to build a better atmosphere, they are mirroring their upbringing, creating another a bubble, an exclusive group, however with 15 cool guys and a mentor who wants you to be yourself provided you conform.

Live where your feet are. Confront risks. But no matter how fast and far you run, things stay similar.

Reflecting on this, it is perhaps the moment to have some sympathy for the approach, to acknowledge its merits, of which there are many. What does it represent? Promoting liberation. Questioning traditions. Batting aggressively|Attacking with