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The Journey of a Phenomenon tends to be defined by distinct phases.

1. The Big Idea

An inspiring figure or figureheads propose an innovative concept pledging a cure for disconnected individuals.

And so it goes. Preparations are underway to confront the system in Australia. Tensions are rising. Signs of trouble appear from within. A lone figure, exposed, nervous, the slogan POSITIVE INTENT smeared across his chest in chicken blood, has emerged into view and is removed in secrecy for a temporary assignment in county cricket.

Do you recall the beginning, when everything was fresh? The era of early Bazball, of uninhibited aggression.

2. The Honeymoon Phase

Cult leaders promise a new start, a brighter tomorrow, camaraderie, salvation among a group who all believe in the big idea.

How did it feel initially? Players celebrating enjoying success. Ink. Forearms. Determination. Confident masculinity. Of course, England’s players will claim they don’t use the label, amusingly because if it doesn’t exist, what was that spectacle?

But we know its essence. It’s Harry Brook attempting a move so depraved it has to be pixelated. It’s the excitement of the leader in ultimate mode, a look that says: pensive Nordic god, strong features, natural look, so authentically Modern Savage you half-expect to glance over and find him positioned on the ground bare-chested and cradling a wild salmon.

It’s Ben Duckett often seen addressing the media, appearing as a happy little woodland creature formally attired, expressing thoughts like we’re breaking down traditions. And yes, the energy, for quite a long time, was uplifting.

3. The Growth Phase

Growth phase. Unity enforced by rote learning of key phrases. These ideas can appear contradictory to prove commitment.

Is it just me? The backlash, the outrage, the disappointment after the first Ashes Test defeat feels overblown, unwarranted. The batting collapsed during the match, as history shows. They were savaged while bowling in a short span as the bowling and captaincy fell apart, manipulated by the batsman batting like England but better, responsive to the situation, a performer excelling with brilliance.

Currently, we see the criticism, the frustration, the perception of the team as a kind of abomination. The opinion suggests that England don’t just need to lose, they should be dismantled, to be scoured, destroyed, destroyed through sheer skill of Mitchell Starc’s movements, the conventional tactics of Scott Boland, marking successes with a bashful smile similar to getting a rewarding prize. What will this do to them?

4. The Backlash Phase

Issues emerge due to setbacks. But the cult cannot admit errors. It turns to hostility externally.

Ultimately, a few days before the upcoming game, we have now reached a delicious point of tension in the story of this movement. Victory is possible overseas in a blur of adrenal disruption. Probably, failure may follow. Should they fail it seems we may see the final stage.

Before that happens, several aspects to note regarding this. In the past, back in those heady early days, of light and heat, I wrote an article calling it a phenomenon. People were very angry, which was helpful as it’s known a method to show that it’s not a closed group is when its acolytes send hundreds of furiously one-eyed messages rejecting criticism of its truths.

What has happened lately is just as interesting. It seems that hating Bazball has now become the cult. Social media is furious, angry English pundits, pictures of upset supporters abroad disappointed by the short match, similar to investors demanding recourse.

Conversely, we have the wider backdrop of the opponent’s mixed deep-seated frustration at these weirdly passive-aggressive buccaneers, out there saying, the methods you value and have developed to distinguish yourselves from others, well, it’s all a bit of a gag ultimately.

Here lies the truth. All movements are similar. Bazball was a cult because cricket is a cult. Or at least, English cricket has always been a cult, a clique, an elite gathering, a closed world with two hundred years of tradition and mystery defining it. Historically, this was where entry is limited. It’s the British pastime of the nation, the original sports washers. And notably, the country is a phenomenon, a system of unknown levels, a monarchy still exists.

The players have been isolated within this world since childhood. In trying to escape from it, to build a better atmosphere, they are mirroring their own experience, building another enclosure, a closed circle, but now with a new team and a leader who wants you to be yourself if you fit the mold.

Live where your feet are. Run towards the danger. 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 movement, to acknowledge its merits, of which there are many. What is Bazball? Promoting liberation. Questioning traditions. Batting aggressively|Attacking with