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The Life Cycle of a Cult can be characterized by specific steps.

1. The Grand Vision

A dominant personality or coaches propose a new and transcendent idea that promises a solution for struggling players.

And so it goes. Preparations are underway to challenge the establishment in Australia. Tensions are rising. Signs of trouble appear from the sidelines. A lone figure, naked, nervous, the words HIGH RELEASE POINT written on his body as a symbol, has emerged into view and is taken aside in secrecy towards an inconclusive loan stint in county cricket.

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

2. Love-Bombing

Cult leaders guarantee a new start, hope for a future, camaraderie, redemption together with shared faith in the method.

How did it feel initially? Just men on a balcony enjoying success. Body art. Muscles. Determination. Confident masculinity. Admittedly, England’s players often say it’s not a real term, amusingly as it’s denied, what was that spectacle?

However, everyone understands its essence. It’s Harry Brook playing a shot so outrageous it’s beyond belief. It’s the adrenaline of the captain at his peak, a demeanor suggesting: thoughtful warrior, rugged appearance, natural look, so authentically Modern Savage you wouldn’t be surprised to look down and see him playing on the ground stripped to the waist holding a fish.

It’s the batsman often seen speaking publicly, out there looking like a happy little woodland creature formally attired, saying stuff like we’re breaking down traditions. Indeed, the vibe, for quite a long time, was only good energy.

3. Expansion Period

Development stage. Cohesion maintained by rote learning of the cult’s slogans. These beliefs are often illogical as a loyalty check.

Am I alone? The backlash, the anger, the feeling of letdown following the initial loss feels overblown, overdone. The performance was poor in Perth, as history shows. They were dominated defensively in a short span when tactics failed, carved around by Travis Head imitating their style effectively, adaptive to conditions, an athlete shining with aura.

And now we have this the pile-on, the rage, the view of the sport as a disgrace. The consensus is that defeat must be total, they should be dismantled, to be purged, obliterated, defeated via traditional methods of the pace attack, the conventional tactics of Scott Boland, seen enjoying achievements modestly like he’s just been given a rewarding prize. How will they respond?

4. Hate Bonding

Issues emerge from failures in the plan. However, faults are ignored. It starts to feed on anger towards critics.

In truth, approaching the upcoming game, we’ve entered a critical juncture in the journey of this thing. Victory is possible in the next Test with bold tactics. More likely, they could lose just as quickly. In case of defeat it seems we may see the final stage.

Prior to that, there are two things to note on the topic. More than two years ago, back in those heady early days, of passion and hope, I wrote an article calling it a phenomenon. There was outrage, which was helpful because everyone knows the best way of proving that it’s not a closed group is should followers react defensively denying scrutiny of the beliefs.

Recent events recently is just as interesting. Criticism of the approach is now the trend. Social media is furious, disappointed commentators, shots of angry middle-aged travelling fans missing out on play, reminiscent of people wanting fairness.

Conversely, we have the wider backdrop of the host’s complex deep-seated frustration towards the unconventional visitors, stating, hey, that thing you love and have developed as part of your identity from the opposition, it’s just a joke ultimately.

This is the core issue. It’s all cults. The approach was a phenomenon since the sport itself is insular. Or at least, the team has long been exclusive, a clique, a private event, a closed world with centuries of ceremonial past behind it. This has always been a place where power and access are hoarded. It’s the British pastime of the nation, the original sports washers. And surprisingly, the country is a phenomenon, a series of esoteric hierarchies, a monarchy still exists.

England’s cricketers have been enclosed within this world from a young age. In trying to escape from it, to foster positivity, they are mirroring their own experience, building another enclosure, an exclusive group, but now with 15 cool guys and a leader promoting authenticity if you fit the mold.

Live where your feet are. Run towards the danger. However much you change, you remain stuck.

With this mind, it is perhaps the moment to have some sympathy for Bazball, to recognize its positives, of which there are many. What does it represent? Creating a sense of freedom. Questioning traditions. Batting aggressively|Attacking with