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The Life Cycle of a Cult tends to be characterized by distinct phases.

1. The Big Idea

A dominant personality or figureheads propose an innovative concept that promises a cure for alienated and vulnerable people.

Thus we find ourselves. They’re getting ready to confront the system in Australia. Tensions are rising. Signs of trouble appear from within. A lone figure, exposed, shivering, the phrase ATTACKING MINDSET smeared across his chest in chicken blood, has stumbled from the field and is removed under a blanket to a different team in county cricket.

Do you ever miss the start, when the world was still young? The era of early Bazball, of uninhibited aggression.

2. The Honeymoon Phase

Team architects offer a fresh beginning, a brighter tomorrow, camaraderie, success among a group who all believe in the big idea.

What did it represent initially? Players celebrating basking in glory. Body art. Forearms. Focus. Confident masculinity. Of course, The team will claim it’s not a real term, ironically since it’s not recognized, what exactly did I just watch?

However, everyone understands what it is. It’s the player playing a shot so outrageous it’s beyond belief. It’s the thrill of the captain in ultimate mode, a look that says: thoughtful warrior, strong features, untamed style, so authentically Modern Savage you wouldn’t be surprised to look down and find him positioned at mid-off shirtless embracing nature.

It’s the opener continuing to have permission addressing the media, resembling a joyful figure formally attired, expressing thoughts like we’re challenging norms. Certainly, the energy, for a significant period, was only good energy.

3. A New Life

Building period. Togetherness strengthened through repetition of mantras. These ideas are often illogical as a test of “true belief”.

Is it just me? The reaction, the outrage, the disappointment following the initial loss appears excessive, too much. The batting collapsed during the match, as they often do in Australia. They were dominated in the field for a couple of hours when tactics failed, manipulated by Travis Head imitating their style effectively, responsive to the situation, an athlete shining with brilliance.

Now there is the criticism, the rage, the sense of English Test cricket as a failure. The consensus is that losing isn’t enough, they must be humbled, to be cleansed, obliterated, overwhelmed by the vengeful purity of Mitchell Starc’s movements, the low-fi orthodoxies of the veteran, marking his wickets humbly as if receiving a nice new fishing rod. What will this do to them?

4. Hate Bonding

Problems arise due to setbacks. But the cult cannot admit errors. It starts to feed on hostility externally.

The fact remains, a few days before the next match, we are at an intriguing moment in the journey of this approach. They might succeed overseas in a blur of adrenal disruption. Probably, defeat could come swiftly. And if they do lose it feels like we really might be entering the decline.

Prior to that, a couple of points to consider regarding this. Previously, at the start, of light and heat, an piece was published labeling it a movement. People were very angry, which was helpful because everyone knows how to confirm that it’s not a closed group is if supporters respond with anger rejecting criticism of the beliefs.

The developments lately is just as interesting. Criticism of the approach has now become the cult. Social media is furious, critical analysts, shots of angry middle-aged supporters abroad cheated out of three days of cricket, like a room full of people wanting fairness.

Conversely, exists the larger scene of the opponent’s mixed deep-seated frustration towards the unconventional visitors, out there saying, your cherished traditions and have honed as part of your identity culturally from us, it’s just a joke after all.

Here lies the truth. 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, an elite gathering, a restricted environment with centuries of tradition and mystery supporting it. This has always been a place where power and access are hoarded. It’s the British pastime of the nation, the pioneering brand. And notably, the nation has its own culture, a series of esoteric hierarchies, a place that literally still has a king.

The team have been enclosed in this system since childhood. Seeking change, to foster positivity, they are just repeating their own experience, building another enclosure, a closed circle, but now with 15 cool guys and a coach encouraging individuality if you fit the mold.

Live where your feet are. Run towards the danger. Despite efforts, you’re always basically in the same place.

With this mind, it is perhaps the moment to offer compassion for the movement, to acknowledge its merits, which are significant. What does it represent? Creating a sense of freedom. Challenging orthodoxies. Batting aggressively|Attacking with