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The Journey of a Movement can be defined by clear stages.

1. The Core Concept

A dominant personality or figureheads introduce an innovative concept pledging a solution for alienated and vulnerable people.

So here we are. Plans are in motion to confront the system overseas. Pressure is mounting. Smoke is rising from within. One individual, vulnerable, anxious, the words HIGH RELEASE POINT written on his body in chicken blood, has emerged from the field and is removed under a blanket for a temporary assignment elsewhere.

Do you ever miss the early days, when the world was still young? The initial phase, of uninhibited aggression.

2. Love-Bombing

Cult leaders guarantee a reboot, a brighter tomorrow, support, salvation together united in belief in the method.

What did it represent at first? Players celebrating feeling good. Body art. Forearms. Jawlines. Peak performance vibes. Of course, The team insist it’s not a real term, which is funny since it’s not recognized, what exactly did I just watch?

Yet it’s clear the concept. It’s Harry Brook attempting a move so depraved it has to be pixelated. It’s the excitement of the leader in ultimate mode, an expression conveying: thoughtful warrior, beard made of wood, natural look, genuinely raw you almost imagine to look down and see him playing at mid-off shirtless embracing nature.

It’s the batsman still being allowed addressing the media, resembling a joyful figure smartly dressed, uttering phrases such as we are actively deconstructing the orange. Indeed, the energy, for quite a long time, was entirely positive.

3. Expansion Period

Growth phase. Unity enforced through repetition of key phrases. These beliefs can appear contradictory as a loyalty check.

Am I alone? The reaction, the fury, the feeling of letdown post-defeat feels overblown, too much. The performance was poor on the field, as they often do in Australia. They were savaged while bowling during a brief period when tactics failed, manipulated by the batsman playing aggressively but smarter, responsive to the situation, a man playing with brilliance.

Now there is the pile-on, the rage, the perception of the team as a failure. The consensus is that England don’t just need to lose, they must be humbled, to be purged, destroyed, defeated by the vengeful purity of Mitchell Starc’s movements, the simple basics of Scott Boland, marking achievements modestly like he’s just been given a nice new fishing rod. What impact will this have?

4. The Backlash Phase

Issues emerge due to setbacks. Yet, mistakes are denied. It starts to feed on hostility externally.

Ultimately, a few days before from the second Test, we have now reached an intriguing moment in the journey of this movement. England could quite easily win overseas with bold tactics. Alternatively, defeat could come swiftly. In case of defeat it appears we could be witnessing the death cult phase.

Prior to that, a couple of points to note regarding this. Previously, back in those heady early days, of passion and hope, an piece was published suggesting Bazball was a cult. People were very angry, which proved the point as it’s known the best way of proving that it’s not a closed group is should followers respond with anger denying scrutiny of the beliefs.

Recent events lately is just as interesting. Criticism of the approach is now the trend. Social media is furious, critical analysts, shots of angry middle-aged followers overseas disappointed by the short match, reminiscent of people wanting fairness.

Meanwhile, exists the larger scene of Australia’s more nuanced deep-seated frustration towards the unconventional visitors, stating, the methods you value and have fostered and nurtured as part of your identity from the opposition, it’s just a joke in the end old boy.

This is the core issue. Everything is a cult. The approach was a phenomenon because cricket is a cult. Or at least, the team has long been exclusive, a circle, a private event, a restricted environment with a long history of ceremonial past defining it. It has long been where influence is guarded. It’s the imperial sport of England, the pioneering brand. And notably, the nation has its own culture, a system of unknown levels, a place that literally still has a king.

England’s cricketers have been sealed up in this environment from a young age. Seeking change, to create a less brutal environment, they are simply replicating their past, creating another a bubble, a limited community, however with 15 cool guys and a leader who wants you to be yourself as long as yourself is quite a lot like myself.

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

With this mind, it might be appropriate to show understanding for the movement, to acknowledge its merits, of which there are many. How to define it? Creating a sense of freedom. Questioning traditions. Batting aggressively|Attacking with