🔗 Share this article

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

1. The Big Idea

An inspiring figure or coaches present a new and transcendent idea that promises a cure for alienated and vulnerable people.

So here we are. Plans are in motion to confront the system in Australia. Tensions are rising. Smoke is rising from the out-houses. One individual, vulnerable, shivering, the slogan POSITIVE INTENT 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 recall the early days, when the world was still young? The era of early Bazball, of Bazball without brains.

2. The Honeymoon Phase

Cult leaders offer a reboot, hope for a future, camaraderie, salvation among a group who all believe in the big idea.

How did it feel back then? Players celebrating enjoying success. Body art. Forearms. Jawlines. Elite male wellness energy. Oh sure, The squad insist it’s not a real term, which is funny because if it doesn’t exist, what did we see?

However, everyone understands what it is. It’s Harry Brook attempting a move so outrageous it defies description. It’s the excitement of the leader in his final form, a demeanor suggesting: thoughtful warrior, rugged appearance, hair woven from beaver hide, so authentically Modern Savage you half-expect to look down and see him playing in the field stripped to the waist holding a fish.

It’s the batsman often seen to talk in press conferences, appearing as a cheerful animal smartly dressed, saying stuff like we are actively deconstructing the orange. Certainly, the vibe, for quite a long time, was uplifting.

3. Expansion Period

Growth phase. Cohesion maintained via memorization of mantras. These principles may seem irrational to prove commitment.

Does anyone else feel? The backlash, the anger, the sense of betrayal post-defeat feels overblown, too much. The performance was poor during the match, as they often do in Australia. They were savaged defensively for a couple of hours as plans unraveled, carved around by the batsman imitating their style effectively, responsive to the situation, a performer excelling with brilliance.

Now there is the criticism, the frustration, the perception of the team as a failure. The opinion suggests that losing isn’t enough, they should be dismantled, to be cleansed, obliterated, destroyed via traditional methods of the pace attack, the simple basics of Scott Boland, seen enjoying his wickets with a bashful smile similar to getting a rewarding prize. How will they respond?

4. The Backlash Phase

Problems arise because of mistakes. Yet, mistakes are denied. It begins to thrive on anger towards critics.

Ultimately, approaching the upcoming game, we’ve entered an intriguing moment in the journey of this movement. England could quite easily win in the next Test through aggressive play. More likely, failure may follow. And if they do lose it seems we really might be entering the death cult phase.

Prior to that, there are two things to consider on the topic. More than two years ago, during the initial excitement, of passion and hope, I wrote an article calling it a phenomenon. People were very angry, which was helpful as it’s known a method to show lack of cult status is when its acolytes respond with anger denying scrutiny of its truths.

Recent events recently are fascinating. Opposition to the style is now the trend. Online outrage is widespread, disappointed commentators, shots of angry middle-aged travelling fans disappointed by the short match, similar to people wanting fairness.

Conversely, there is the broader context of Australia’s more nuanced deep-seated frustration at these weirdly passive-aggressive buccaneers, out there saying, your cherished traditions and have fostered and nurtured as part of your identity culturally from us, well, it’s all a bit of a gag ultimately.

Here lies the truth. Everything is a cult. Bazball was a cult as the game has its own culture. Or rather, the team has long been exclusive, a circle, a garden party, a restricted environment with two hundred years 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 British, the early image-makers. And notably, Britain is itself a cult, a structure of hidden ranks, a monarchy still exists.

The players have been sealed up in this system for years. Attempting to break free, to create a less brutal environment, they are simply replicating their past, creating another a bubble, 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. But no matter how fast and far you run, things stay similar.

Considering this, it might be appropriate to offer compassion for the movement, to appreciate its good points, of which there are many. What is Bazball? Encouraging expression. Defying norms. Batting aggressively|Attacking with