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The Journey of a Phenomenon is often defined by clear stages.

1. The Grand Vision

A charismatic leader or coaches introduce an innovative concept that promises a cure for struggling players.

Thus we find ourselves. Preparations are underway to confront the system in Australia. Pressure is mounting. Conflict emerges from within. A lone figure, exposed, shivering, the words HIGH RELEASE POINT smeared across his chest in chicken blood, has come staggering through the lines and is removed with discretion to a different team in county cricket.

Remember the start, when optimism reigned? The era of early Bazball, of Bazball without brains.

2. The Honeymoon Phase

Cult leaders promise a new start, hope for a future, camaraderie, redemption together united in belief in the method.

How did it feel back then? A team united enjoying success. Tattoos. Muscles. Jawlines. Elite male wellness energy. Admittedly, The team insist it’s not a real term, ironically since it’s not recognized, what did we see?

However, everyone understands what it is. It’s Harry Brook executing a stroke so outrageous it has to be pixelated. It’s the adrenaline of the captain in ultimate mode, a demeanor suggesting: pensive Nordic god, rugged appearance, hair woven from beaver hide, genuinely raw you half-expect to look down and notice he’s fielding on the ground bare-chested embracing nature.

It’s the opener continuing to have permission speaking publicly, resembling a happy little woodland creature in a waistcoat, saying stuff like we are actively deconstructing the orange. Certainly, the vibe, for quite a long time, was only good energy.

3. The Growth Phase

Development stage. Togetherness strengthened by rote learning of mantras. These principles can appear contradictory as a test of “true belief”.

Is it just me? The reaction, the fury, the feeling of letdown post-defeat feels overblown, too much. England batted badly on the field, as history shows. They were torn apart in the field during a brief period when tactics failed, manipulated by the batsman imitating their style effectively, responsive to the situation, a performer excelling with a kind of light around him.

Now there is the pile-on, the rage, the view of the sport as a kind of abomination. The feeling seems to be that England don’t just need to lose, they should be dismantled, to be purged, flame-throwered, destroyed by the vengeful purity of the pace attack, the conventional tactics of the veteran, seen enjoying achievements with a bashful smile as if receiving a rewarding prize. What will this do to them?

4. Hate Bonding

Challenges surface from failures in the plan. Yet, mistakes are denied. It turns to anger towards critics.

In truth, approaching from the second Test, we have now reached a delicious point of tension in the lifespan of this movement. England could quite easily win in the next Test with bold tactics. More likely, defeat could come swiftly. Should they fail it seems we really might be entering the decline.

Prior to that, there are two things to consider regarding this. More than two years ago, during the initial excitement, of passion and hope, I wrote an article calling it a phenomenon. Criticism followed, which proved the point because everyone knows how to confirm lack of cult status is when its acolytes send hundreds of furiously one-eyed messages rejecting criticism of the beliefs.

The developments in the last few days is just as interesting. It seems that hating Bazball has now become the cult. Social media is furious, disappointed commentators, images of frustrated supporters abroad missing out on play, similar to people wanting fairness.

Meanwhile, there is the broader context of the opponent’s mixed more culturally hard-wired exasperation at these weirdly passive-aggressive buccaneers, stating, hey, that thing you love and have developed as part of your identity culturally from us, well, it’s all a bit of a gag ultimately.

Here lies the truth. It’s all cults. The approach was a phenomenon since the sport itself is insular. Or at least, English cricket has always been a cult, a circle, a private event, a restricted environment with a long history of ceremonial past behind it. Historically, this was a place where power and access are hoarded. It’s the imperial sport of the British, the early image-makers. And surprisingly, the country is a phenomenon, a series of esoteric hierarchies, a place that literally still has a king.

The players have been isolated in this system for years. In trying to escape from it, to build a better atmosphere, they are mirroring their past, forming a new circle, a limited community, however with 15 cool guys and a mentor who wants you to be yourself as long as yourself is quite a lot like myself.

Stay present. Confront risks. But no matter how fast and far you run, things stay similar.

With this mind, now is the time to have some sympathy for Bazball, to recognize its positives, of which there are many. How to define it? Promoting liberation. Challenging orthodoxies. Batting aggressively|Attacking with