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The Journey of a Cult is often characterized by specific steps.

1. The Grand Vision

A charismatic leader or leaders present a new and transcendent idea pledging a solution for alienated and vulnerable people.

Thus we find ourselves. Plans are in motion to challenge the establishment overseas. Pressure is mounting. Signs of trouble appear from the sidelines. One individual, naked, shivering, the words HIGH RELEASE POINT displayed prominently as a symbol, has stumbled through the lines and is taken aside with discretion for a temporary assignment at Derbyshire.

Remember the early days, when optimism reigned? The initial phase, of pure instinct.

2. Initial Adoration

Team architects offer a fresh beginning, a brighter tomorrow, love, redemption among a group with shared faith in the philosophy.

How did it feel back then? A team united basking in glory. Body art. Forearms. Jawlines. Peak performance vibes. Admittedly, England’s players will claim it’s not a real term, which is funny as it’s denied, what did we see?

Yet it’s clear its essence. It’s Harry Brook executing a stroke so outrageous it’s beyond belief. It’s the thrill of the captain in his final form, a demeanor suggesting: thoughtful warrior, beard made of wood, hair woven from beaver hide, truly contemporary you half-expect to notice and find him positioned in the field bare-chested embracing nature.

It’s Ben Duckett continuing to have permission addressing the media, resembling a joyful figure in a waistcoat, uttering phrases such as we’re challenging norms. Certainly, the energy, for quite a long time, was uplifting.

3. A New Life

Building period. Cohesion maintained via memorization of the cult’s slogans. These beliefs can appear contradictory as a loyalty check.

Am I alone? The backlash, the fury, the disappointment following the initial loss appears excessive, overdone. The batting collapsed in Perth, as is typical there. They were dominated in the field for a couple of hours as plans unraveled, outplayed by Travis Head batting like England but better, adaptive to conditions, an athlete shining with a kind of light around him.

Now there is the pile-on, the rage, the sense of English Test cricket as a kind of abomination. The feeling seems to be that losing isn’t enough, they need to lose righteously, to be cleansed, flame-throwered, overwhelmed by the vengeful purity of Mitchell Starc’s movements, the low-fi orthodoxies of the veteran, seen enjoying his wickets humbly similar to getting a nice new fishing rod. What will this do to them?

4. The Backlash Phase

Problems arise because of mistakes. However, faults are ignored. It begins to thrive on hatred of the outside world.

Ultimately, a few days before the next match, we are at a critical juncture in the journey of this approach. They might succeed in the next Test with bold tactics. More likely, defeat could come swiftly. And if they do lose it appears we could be witnessing the death cult phase.

Prior to that, a couple of points worth saying on the topic. More than two years ago, back in those heady early days, of passion and hope, I wrote an article suggesting Bazball was a cult. Criticism followed, which demonstrated since it’s clear a method to show that it’s not a closed group is when its acolytes react defensively rejecting criticism of its truths.

The developments lately are fascinating. Criticism of the approach has now become the cult. Online outrage is widespread, critical analysts, images of frustrated followers overseas missing out on play, similar to investors demanding recourse.

Conversely, there is the broader context of the opponent’s mixed deep-seated frustration at these weirdly passive-aggressive buccaneers, out there saying, your cherished traditions and have honed to distinguish yourselves from others, it’s just a joke ultimately.

And this is the real point. All movements are similar. The style was a trend because cricket is a cult. Or rather, the sport in England is closed, a group, an elite gathering, a restricted environment with a long history of opaque and ritualistic cult history supporting it. This has always been where influence is guarded. It’s the colonial game of the British, the pioneering brand. And guess what, Britain is itself a cult, a system of unknown levels, a place that literally still has a king.

The team have been isolated within this world for years. Attempting to break free, to create a less brutal environment, they are mirroring their own experience, building another enclosure, an exclusive group, however with a modern squad and a coach who wants you to be yourself if you fit the mold.

Focus on the moment. Embrace challenges. However much you change, you’re always basically in the same place.

With this mind, it might be appropriate to have some sympathy for the movement, to appreciate its good points, that are numerous. What does it represent? Promoting liberation. Questioning traditions. Batting aggressively|Attacking with