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The Life Cycle of a Cult tends to be characterized by distinct phases.

1. The Core Concept

A charismatic leader or figureheads propose a revolutionary approach pledging a solution for alienated and vulnerable people.

And so it goes. They’re getting ready to storm the compound in Australia. The gunships are circling. Signs of trouble appear from within. An isolated player, naked, anxious, the phrase ATTACKING MINDSET smeared across his chest in chicken blood, has emerged from the field and is removed in secrecy to a different team in county cricket.

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

2. Love-Bombing

Team architects offer a fresh beginning, optimism ahead, support, redemption among a group united in belief in the method.

What did it represent back then? Players celebrating enjoying success. Tattoos. Muscles. Focus. Peak performance vibes. Admittedly, The squad will claim it’s not a real term, which is funny because if it doesn’t exist, what was that spectacle?

However, everyone understands the concept. It’s Harry Brook attempting a move so unconventional it has to be pixelated. It’s the adrenaline of the captain in his final form, a demeanor suggesting: pensive Nordic god, strong features, hair woven from beaver hide, so authentically Modern Savage you half-expect to look down and notice he’s fielding at mid-off bare-chested embracing nature.

It’s Ben Duckett still being allowed to talk in press conferences, appearing as a joyful figure in a waistcoat, expressing thoughts like we’re challenging norms. Indeed, the atmosphere, initially, was uplifting.

3. Expansion Period

Growth phase. Cohesion maintained by rote learning of mantras. These principles may seem irrational to prove commitment.

Is it just me? The criticism, the anger, the sense of betrayal after the first Ashes Test defeat appears excessive, too much. The batting collapsed in Perth, as history shows. They were dominated while bowling in a short span when tactics failed, manipulated by the batsman imitating their style effectively, responsive to the situation, a man playing with aura.

And now we have this the pile-on, the anger, the perception of the team as a disgrace. The feeling seems to be that England don’t just need to lose, they should be dismantled, to be cleansed, flame-throwered, destroyed via traditional methods of Mitchell Starc’s movements, the conventional tactics of the bowler, out there celebrating achievements modestly like he’s just been given a nice new fishing rod. How will they respond?

4. Hate Bonding

Problems arise due to setbacks. Yet, mistakes are denied. It starts to feed on hatred of the outside world.

Ultimately, a few days before the upcoming game, we have now reached a delicious point of tension in the story of this thing. England could quite easily win overseas with bold tactics. Probably, they could lose just as quickly. And if they do lose it feels like we really might be entering the death cult phase.

Prior to that, a couple of points to note about this. In the past, during the initial excitement, of light and heat, I wrote an article calling it a phenomenon. There was outrage, which demonstrated since it’s clear how to confirm something definitely isn’t a cult is should followers react defensively rejecting criticism of the philosophy.

Recent events in the last few days is just as interesting. Criticism of the approach has turned into a movement. Social media is furious, disappointed commentators, shots of angry middle-aged followers overseas missing out on play, like a room full of investors demanding recourse.

Meanwhile, there is the broader context of the opponent’s mixed ingrained annoyance towards the unconventional visitors, out there saying, hey, that thing you love and have honed to distinguish yourselves culturally from us, it’s just a joke after all.

And this is the real point. It’s all cults. Bazball was a cult as the game has its own culture. Or rather, the team has long been exclusive, a clique, an elite gathering, a restricted environment with centuries of ceremonial past defining it. Historically, this was where entry is limited. It’s the imperial sport of the nation, the original sports washers. And guess what, Britain is itself a cult, a structure of hidden ranks, a royal family remains.

England’s cricketers have been isolated in this system for years. In trying to escape from it, to foster positivity, they are just repeating their own experience, building another enclosure, a closed circle, however with 15 cool guys and a mentor who wants you to be yourself as long as yourself is quite a lot like myself.

Focus on the moment. Confront risks. Despite efforts, you remain stuck.

Considering this, it might be appropriate to show understanding for the movement, to appreciate its good points, which are significant. What is Bazball? Promoting liberation. Defying norms. Batting aggressively|Attacking with