🔗 Share this article

The Journey of a Phenomenon is often characterized by distinct phases.

1. The Big Idea

An inspiring figure or coaches introduce a new and transcendent idea offering a solution for struggling players.

So here we are. They’re getting ready to challenge the establishment in Australia. The gunships are circling. Conflict emerges from within. An isolated player, naked, anxious, the phrase ATTACKING MINDSET smeared across his chest as a symbol, has stumbled from the field and is being led away under a blanket towards an inconclusive loan stint in county cricket.

Do you ever miss the start, when everything was fresh? The initial phase, of uninhibited aggression.

2. Love-Bombing

Cult leaders guarantee a new start, a brighter tomorrow, love, salvation among a group united in belief in the method.

What was this thing initially? A team united enjoying success. Tattoos. Muscles. Jawlines. Peak performance vibes. Admittedly, England’s players will claim it’s not a real term, amusingly because if it doesn’t exist, what was that spectacle?

But we know its essence. It’s the batsman playing a shot so outrageous it’s beyond belief. It’s the adrenaline of the captain in ultimate mode, a demeanor suggesting: thoughtful warrior, rugged appearance, untamed style, genuinely raw you half-expect to notice and find him positioned at mid-off bare-chested and cradling a wild salmon.

It’s the batsman still being allowed to talk in press conferences, out there looking like a joyful figure in a waistcoat, saying stuff like we are actively deconstructing the orange. Certainly, the vibe, for quite a long time, was only good energy.

3. Expansion Period

Building period. Unity enforced by rote learning of mantras. These principles may seem irrational as a test of “true belief”.

Am I alone? The criticism, the outrage, the feeling of letdown post-defeat feels overblown, overdone. The batting collapsed in Perth, as is typical there. They were torn apart in the field for a couple of hours as plans unraveled, outplayed by the opponent batting like England but better, adaptive to conditions, an athlete shining with aura.

Currently, we see the pile-on, the anger, the view of the sport as a kind of abomination. The opinion suggests that defeat must be total, they must be humbled, to be scoured, obliterated, defeated via traditional methods of the pace attack, the low-fi orthodoxies of the veteran, marking his wickets modestly as if receiving a pleasant gift. What impact will this have?

4. Hate Bonding

Issues emerge because of mistakes. But the cult cannot admit errors. It begins to thrive on anger towards critics.

In truth, a few days before the upcoming game, we’ve entered an intriguing moment in the story of this movement. England could quite easily win overseas through aggressive play. Probably, failure may follow. In case of defeat it seems we could be witnessing the decline.

Before that happens, a couple of points to consider about this. Previously, during the initial excitement, of light and heat, I wrote an article calling it a phenomenon. Criticism followed, which proved the point because everyone knows the best way of proving lack of cult status is if supporters send hundreds of furiously one-eyed messages denying scrutiny of the philosophy.

Recent events in the last few days are equally notable. Opposition to the style has turned into a movement. Social media is furious, critical analysts, images of frustrated followers overseas cheated out of three days of cricket, reminiscent of timeshare owners seeking justice.

Conversely, exists the larger scene of the opponent’s mixed ingrained annoyance at these weirdly passive-aggressive buccaneers, out there saying, hey, that thing you love and have honed as one way of separating yourself culturally from us, it’s not serious ultimately.

Here lies the truth. It’s all cults. The approach was a phenomenon since the sport itself is insular. Or at least, the sport in England is closed, a circle, an elite gathering, a closed world with centuries of ceremonial past behind it. Historically, this was where influence is guarded. It’s the British pastime of the nation, the pioneering brand. And surprisingly, the nation has its own culture, a system of unknown levels, a monarchy still exists.

The team have been enclosed in this environment from a young age. In trying to escape from it, to create a less brutal environment, they are simply replicating their upbringing, forming a new circle, a limited community, but now with a new team and a leader promoting authenticity provided you conform.

Live where your feet are. Run towards the danger. Despite efforts, you’re always basically in the same place.

Reflecting on this, it is perhaps the moment to have some sympathy for Bazball, to appreciate its good points, of which there are many. What is Bazball? Promoting liberation. Defying norms. Batting aggressively|Attacking with