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The Journey of a Phenomenon can be defined by distinct phases.

1. The Core Concept

A charismatic leader or coaches present a revolutionary approach pledging a cure for struggling players.

And so it goes. Plans are in motion to storm the compound overseas. The gunships are circling. Smoke is rising from the out-houses. A lone figure, naked, shivering, the phrase ATTACKING MINDSET smeared across his chest in chicken blood, has stumbled from the field and is being led away under a blanket towards an inconclusive loan stint at Derbyshire.

Do you ever miss the start, when optimism reigned? The era of early Bazball, of pure instinct.

2. The Honeymoon Phase

Cult leaders offer a fresh beginning, hope for a future, support, success within a community united in belief in the philosophy.

What was this thing initially? Players celebrating basking in glory. Ink. Muscles. Jawlines. Peak performance vibes. Of course, England’s players insist Bazball doesn’t actually exist, which is funny since it’s not recognized, what did we see?

But we know its essence. It’s Harry Brook executing a stroke so depraved it has to be pixelated. It’s the excitement of the leader in ultimate mode, a look that says: pensive Nordic god, strong features, natural look, genuinely raw you half-expect to notice and find him positioned in the field stripped to the waist and cradling a wild salmon.

It’s the opener continuing to have permission addressing the media, appearing as a happy little woodland creature in a waistcoat, uttering phrases such as we’re challenging norms. Indeed, the energy, initially, was only good energy.

3. The Growth Phase

Development stage. Togetherness strengthened by rote learning of mantras. These ideas are often illogical as a loyalty check.

Am I alone? The criticism, the fury, the disappointment following the initial loss seems too strong, unwarranted. The batting collapsed during the match, as is typical there. They were torn apart while bowling in a short span as the bowling and captaincy fell apart, outplayed by Travis Head batting like England but better, responsive to the situation, a performer excelling with a kind of light around him.

Now there is the criticism, the anger, the view of the sport as a kind of abomination. The consensus is that defeat must be total, they should be dismantled, to be scoured, obliterated, defeated by the vengeful purity of the pace attack, the conventional tactics of Scott Boland, marking his wickets humbly as if receiving a pleasant gift. How will they respond?

4. Hate Bonding

Issues emerge due to setbacks. Yet, mistakes are denied. It turns to hatred of the outside world.

In truth, a few days before the upcoming game, we have now reached a critical juncture in the journey of this approach. England could quite easily win overseas in a blur of adrenal disruption. Probably, failure may follow. In case of defeat it seems we could be witnessing the final stage.

Before that happens, there are two things to note regarding this. Previously, at the start, of optimism and energy, I wrote an article suggesting Bazball was a cult. People were very angry, which was helpful because everyone knows the best way of proving lack of cult status is should followers respond with anger denying scrutiny of the beliefs.

Recent events in the last few days are fascinating. Opposition to the style is now the trend. We have a uniformly angry internet, disappointed commentators, images of frustrated followers overseas cheated out of three days of cricket, like a room full of investors demanding recourse.

Conversely, exists the larger scene of the host’s complex ingrained annoyance with the aggressive tourists, claiming, your cherished traditions and have honed as part of your identity from others, it’s just a joke in the end old boy.

Here lies the truth. It’s all cults. The style was a trend as the game has its own culture. Or rather, the sport in England is closed, a group, a garden party, a restricted environment with a long history of ceremonial past behind it. It has long been where influence is guarded. It’s the British pastime of the nation, the pioneering brand. And notably, the country is a phenomenon, a series of esoteric hierarchies, a place that literally still has a king.

The players have been sealed up in this environment from a young age. In trying to escape from it, to foster positivity, they are simply replicating their own experience, forming a new circle, an exclusive group, but now with a modern squad and a mentor who wants you to be yourself as long as yourself is quite a lot like myself.

Focus on the moment. Embrace challenges. But no matter how fast and far you run, you remain stuck.

Reflecting on this, now is the time to offer compassion for the approach, to appreciate its good points, that are numerous. What does it represent? Creating a sense of freedom. Questioning traditions. Batting aggressively|Attacking with