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The Life Cycle of a Phenomenon tends to be marked by specific steps.

1. The Grand Vision

A charismatic leader or leaders present a revolutionary approach offering a solution for alienated and vulnerable people.

And so it goes. Preparations are underway to challenge the establishment overseas. The gunships are circling. Signs of trouble appear from within. A lone figure, naked, anxious, the words HIGH RELEASE POINT written on his body as a symbol, has emerged from the field and is removed with discretion to a different team elsewhere.

Remember the start, when optimism reigned? The initial phase, of pure instinct.

2. Love-Bombing

Team architects guarantee a fresh beginning, optimism ahead, love, redemption within a community who all believe in the method.

What was this thing initially? Just men on a balcony feeling good. Tattoos. Forearms. Jawlines. Confident masculinity. Oh sure, The team will claim Bazball doesn’t actually exist, ironically as it’s denied, what exactly did I just watch?

However, everyone understands its essence. It’s the batsman playing a shot so outrageous it defies description. It’s the excitement of Ben Stokes at his peak, a look that says: focused titan, beard made of wood, untamed style, truly contemporary you wouldn’t be surprised to look down and notice he’s fielding at mid-off bare-chested holding a fish.

It’s Ben Duckett often seen speaking publicly, out there looking like a cheerful animal smartly dressed, saying stuff like we are actively deconstructing the orange. Indeed, the energy, for a significant period, was entirely positive.

3. A New Life

Growth phase. Togetherness strengthened by rote learning of mantras. These principles are often illogical to prove commitment.

Is it just me? The criticism, the fury, the sense of betrayal following the initial loss feels overblown, unwarranted. England batted badly on the field, as they often do in Australia. They were dominated in the field during a brief period as plans unraveled, outplayed by the batsman imitating their style effectively, adjusting to the pitch, an athlete shining with a kind of light around him.

Currently, we see the pile-on, the rage, the view of the sport as a disgrace. The opinion suggests that England don’t just need to lose, they need to lose righteously, to be cleansed, destroyed, defeated by the vengeful purity of the pace attack, the conventional tactics of the bowler, marking his wickets modestly similar to getting a rewarding prize. What will this do to them?

4. The Backlash Phase

Problems arise because of mistakes. But the cult cannot admit errors. It begins to thrive on hostility externally.

Ultimately, a few days before the next match, we are at an intriguing moment in the lifespan of this approach. England could quite easily win in Brisbane through aggressive play. Probably, defeat could come swiftly. In case of defeat it feels like we could be witnessing the decline.

Ahead of this, several aspects to note on the topic. Previously, back in those heady early days, of optimism and energy, a column appeared suggesting Bazball was a cult. Criticism followed, which proved the point since it’s clear the best way of proving something definitely isn’t a cult is should followers react defensively denying scrutiny of its truths.

The developments in the last few days is just as interesting. Opposition to the style is now the trend. Online outrage is widespread, disappointed commentators, pictures of upset followers overseas missing out on play, like a room full of people wanting fairness.

Meanwhile, there is the broader context of the opponent’s mixed deep-seated frustration towards the unconventional visitors, out there saying, hey, that thing you love and have honed as part of your identity from others, well, it’s all a bit of a gag in the end old boy.

And this is the real point. All movements are similar. The approach was a phenomenon because cricket is a cult. Or at least, the team has long been exclusive, a group, an elite gathering, a restricted environment with a long history of opaque and ritualistic cult history behind it. Historically, this was a place where power and access are hoarded. It’s the British pastime of the nation, the pioneering brand. And guess what, the nation has its own culture, a series of esoteric hierarchies, a royal family remains.

The players have been enclosed in this system for years. In trying to escape from it, to foster positivity, they are just repeating their own experience, creating another a bubble, a closed circle, but doing it this time with 15 cool guys and a mentor encouraging individuality provided you conform.

Live where your feet are. Embrace challenges. However much you change, you remain stuck.

With this mind, it might be appropriate to have some sympathy for the movement, to appreciate its good points, which are significant. What is Bazball? Promoting liberation. Defying norms. Batting aggressively|Attacking with