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The Journey of a Movement can be characterized by clear stages.

1. The Grand Vision

A dominant personality or leaders introduce a new and transcendent idea pledging a solution for alienated and vulnerable people.

And so it goes. Plans are in motion to storm the compound overseas. The gunships are circling. Signs of trouble appear from within. A lone figure, vulnerable, nervous, the phrase ATTACKING MINDSET displayed prominently as a symbol, has come staggering through the lines and is being led away under a blanket towards an inconclusive loan stint elsewhere.

Remember the beginning, when everything was fresh? The era of early Bazball, of pure instinct.

2. Love-Bombing

Movement founders offer a new start, a brighter tomorrow, support, salvation among a group united in belief in the philosophy.

How did it feel at first? Just men on a balcony feeling good. Ink. Forearms. Focus. Confident masculinity. Admittedly, The team insist it’s not a real term, ironically as it’s denied, what was that spectacle?

Yet it’s clear what it is. It’s the batsman executing a stroke so depraved it defies description. It’s the excitement of the leader at his peak, an expression conveying: focused titan, beard made of wood, natural look, so authentically Modern Savage you half-expect to glance over and find him positioned in the field stripped to the waist embracing nature.

It’s the opener still being allowed to talk in press conferences, resembling a cheerful animal in a waistcoat, uttering phrases such as we are actively deconstructing the orange. Indeed, the vibe, for a significant period, was uplifting.

3. Expansion Period

Growth phase. Cohesion maintained through repetition of the cult’s slogans. These beliefs can appear contradictory as a loyalty check.

Am I alone? The criticism, the outrage, the disappointment post-defeat appears excessive, unwarranted. The batting collapsed during the match, as history shows. They were savaged while bowling for a couple of hours as plans unraveled, manipulated by the batsman playing aggressively but smarter, adjusting to the pitch, a performer excelling with brilliance.

And now we have this the criticism, the rage, the view of the sport as a kind of abomination. The opinion suggests that losing isn’t enough, they must be humbled, to be scoured, flame-throwered, defeated by the vengeful purity of Mitchell Starc’s movements, the conventional tactics of the veteran, seen enjoying achievements with a bashful smile like he’s just been given a pleasant gift. What impact will this have?

4. The Backlash Phase

Issues emerge due to setbacks. But the cult cannot admit errors. It begins to thrive on hatred of the outside world.

In truth, approaching the upcoming game, we’ve entered a critical juncture in the lifespan of this movement. England could quite easily win in Brisbane through aggressive play. Probably, failure may follow. And if they do lose it seems we really might be entering the final stage.

Before that happens, there are two things to consider about this. More than two years ago, at the start, of light and heat, a column appeared suggesting Bazball was a cult. There was outrage, which proved the point since it’s clear the best way of proving something definitely isn’t a cult is if supporters send hundreds of furiously one-eyed messages rejecting criticism of the philosophy.

Recent events recently is just as interesting. Criticism of the approach has turned into a movement. Social media is furious, angry English pundits, shots of angry middle-aged followers overseas missing out on play, reminiscent of people wanting fairness.

Meanwhile, we have the wider backdrop of Australia’s more nuanced deep-seated frustration at these weirdly passive-aggressive buccaneers, stating, hey, that thing you love and have honed as part of your identity culturally from us, well, it’s all a bit of a gag ultimately.

Here lies the truth. All movements are similar. Bazball was a cult as the game has its own culture. Or at least, English cricket has always been a cult, a clique, an elite gathering, a restricted environment with two hundred years of tradition and mystery behind it. It has long been a place where power and access are hoarded. It’s the colonial game of the British, the original sports washers. And guess what, the country is a phenomenon, a structure of hidden ranks, a monarchy still exists.

The team have been enclosed in this environment since childhood. In trying to escape from it, to build a better atmosphere, they are just repeating their past, creating another a bubble, a limited community, but doing it this time with a modern squad and a coach encouraging individuality as long as yourself is quite a lot like myself.

Focus on the moment. Embrace challenges. However much you change, you remain stuck.

Reflecting on this, it is perhaps the moment to offer compassion for the approach, to appreciate its good points, that are numerous. What is Bazball? Creating a sense of freedom. Challenging orthodoxies. Batting aggressively|Attacking with