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The Life Cycle of a Movement is often characterized by distinct phases.

1. The Big Idea

A dominant personality or figureheads introduce a new and transcendent idea that promises a panacea for struggling players.

And so it goes. Preparations are underway to challenge the establishment in Australia. Tensions are rising. Smoke is rising from the out-houses. One individual, naked, nervous, the phrase ATTACKING MINDSET written on his body as a statement, has emerged into view and is removed in secrecy for a temporary assignment at Derbyshire.

Remember the start, when optimism reigned? The initial phase, of Bazball without brains.

2. Initial Adoration

Team architects promise a new start, a brighter tomorrow, love, success within a community who all believe in the philosophy.

What did it represent initially? Just men on a balcony enjoying success. Ink. Muscles. Determination. Confident masculinity. Oh sure, The team insist they don’t use the label, which is funny as it’s denied, what did we see?

However, everyone understands the concept. It’s the batsman executing a stroke so unconventional it’s beyond belief. It’s the thrill of the captain in ultimate mode, an expression conveying: thoughtful warrior, rugged appearance, untamed style, genuinely raw you almost imagine to glance over and see him playing at mid-off bare-chested embracing nature.

It’s the batsman still being allowed to talk in press conferences, resembling a happy little woodland creature smartly dressed, uttering phrases such as we’re challenging norms. Certainly, the energy, for a significant period, was only good energy.

3. Expansion Period

Growth phase. Togetherness strengthened through repetition of key phrases. These beliefs are often illogical as a loyalty check.

Is it just me? The criticism, the fury, the disappointment post-defeat appears excessive, overdone. The performance was poor in Perth, as they often do in Australia. They were dominated while bowling during a brief period as plans unraveled, manipulated by Travis Head batting like England but better, adjusting to the pitch, an athlete shining with brilliance.

Now there is the pile-on, the rage, the view of the sport as a failure. The consensus is that England don’t just need to lose, they must be humbled, to be scoured, obliterated, overwhelmed through sheer skill of the pace attack, the low-fi orthodoxies of Scott Boland, out there celebrating successes modestly as if receiving a rewarding prize. How will they respond?

4. The Backlash Phase

Problems arise from failures in the plan. But the cult cannot admit errors. It starts to feed on anger towards critics.

The fact remains, approaching from the second Test, we are at an intriguing moment in the journey of this movement. England could quite easily win in the next Test in a blur of adrenal disruption. Alternatively, they could lose just as quickly. And if they do lose it seems we really might be entering the final stage.

Ahead of this, there are two things worth saying on the topic. In the past, during the initial excitement, of light and heat, a column appeared labeling it a movement. People were very angry, which was helpful since it’s clear how to confirm lack of cult status is when its acolytes respond with anger rejecting criticism of the beliefs.

What has happened in the last few days is just as interesting. It seems that hating Bazball has turned into a movement. Social media is furious, angry English pundits, shots of angry middle-aged followers overseas missing out on play, similar to people wanting fairness.

On the other hand, exists the larger scene of the opponent’s mixed deep-seated frustration towards the unconventional visitors, claiming, hey, that thing you love and have developed to distinguish yourselves from the opposition, it’s just a joke in the end old boy.

And this is the real point. Everything is a cult. Bazball was a cult as the game has its own culture. In fact, English cricket has always been a cult, a group, a garden party, a restricted environment with centuries of ceremonial past behind it. It has long been where entry is limited. It’s the colonial game of the nation, the early image-makers. And guess what, Britain is itself a cult, a series of esoteric hierarchies, a place that literally still has a king.

England’s cricketers have been isolated within this world for years. Seeking change, to create a less brutal environment, they are simply replicating their past, building another enclosure, an exclusive group, but now with a new team and a coach promoting authenticity if you fit the mold.

Focus on the moment. Run towards the danger. Despite efforts, you’re always basically in the same place.

With this mind, it might be appropriate to offer compassion for the movement, to recognize its positives, that are numerous. How to define it? Creating a sense of freedom. Challenging orthodoxies. Batting aggressively|Attacking with