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The Journey of a Movement is often characterized by distinct phases.

1. The Big Idea

A charismatic leader or coaches propose a revolutionary approach pledging a panacea for disconnected individuals.

Thus we find ourselves. Plans are in motion to challenge the establishment overseas. The gunships are circling. Conflict emerges from the sidelines. An isolated player, exposed, nervous, the words HIGH RELEASE POINT displayed prominently as a statement, has come staggering through the lines and is being led away with discretion to a different team elsewhere.

Do you ever miss the start, when the world was still young? The initial phase, of pure instinct.

2. The Honeymoon Phase

Team architects promise a new start, optimism ahead, camaraderie, salvation within a community united in belief in the big idea.

How did it feel initially? Players celebrating enjoying success. Ink. Forearms. Focus. Peak performance vibes. Admittedly, The team will claim Bazball doesn’t actually exist, which is funny because if it doesn’t exist, what exactly did I just watch?

However, everyone understands what it is. It’s Harry Brook executing a stroke so outrageous it’s beyond belief. It’s the adrenaline of the leader at his peak, a demeanor suggesting: focused titan, strong features, natural look, genuinely raw you half-expect to glance over and see him playing in the field bare-chested and cradling a wild salmon.

It’s the batsman continuing to have permission speaking publicly, out there looking like a cheerful animal formally attired, expressing thoughts like we are actively deconstructing the orange. Indeed, the atmosphere, for a significant period, was entirely positive.

3. The Growth Phase

Growth phase. Unity enforced by rote learning of mantras. These ideas are often illogical as a test of “true belief”.

Does anyone else feel? The backlash, the outrage, the sense of betrayal post-defeat appears excessive, unwarranted. The batting collapsed on the field, as history shows. They were torn apart defensively for a couple of hours when tactics failed, outplayed by the opponent batting like England but better, adaptive to conditions, an athlete shining with brilliance.

Now there is the criticism, the anger, the sense of English Test cricket as a disgrace. The feeling seems to be that defeat must be total, they must be humbled, to be scoured, obliterated, destroyed through sheer skill of Mitchell Starc’s movements, the simple basics of the bowler, seen enjoying successes modestly like he’s just been given a rewarding prize. How will they respond?

4. Hate Bonding

Problems arise due to setbacks. But the cult cannot admit errors. It turns to hatred of the outside world.

In truth, half a week out the next match, we have now reached an intriguing moment in the lifespan of this thing. Victory is possible in Brisbane in a blur of adrenal disruption. More likely, they could lose just as quickly. In case of defeat it feels like we really might be entering the decline.

Prior to that, several aspects to consider regarding this. More than two years ago, at the start, of light and heat, I wrote an article calling it a phenomenon. People were very angry, which demonstrated as it’s known how to confirm lack of cult status is when its acolytes respond with anger objecting to the questioning of the philosophy.

What has happened in the last few days are equally notable. Criticism of the approach has turned into a movement. Online outrage is widespread, disappointed commentators, images of frustrated followers overseas missing out on play, reminiscent of people wanting fairness.

On the other hand, we have the wider backdrop of the host’s complex deep-seated frustration with the aggressive tourists, stating, hey, that thing you love and have developed to distinguish yourselves from others, it’s not serious in the end old boy.

And this is the real point. It’s all cults. The approach was a phenomenon because cricket is a cult. Or rather, English cricket has always been a cult, a circle, a private event, a restricted environment with centuries of ceremonial past behind it. This has always been a place where power and access are hoarded. It’s the British pastime of the British, the original sports washers. And surprisingly, Britain is itself a cult, a series of esoteric hierarchies, a place that literally still has a king.

The players have been sealed up in this system since childhood. Attempting to break free, to create a less brutal environment, they are just repeating their upbringing, building another enclosure, a closed circle, but doing it this time with 15 cool guys and a mentor who wants you to be yourself if you fit the mold.

Focus on the moment. Run towards the danger. However much you change, things stay similar.

Reflecting on this, it is perhaps the moment to offer compassion for the movement, to acknowledge its merits, of which there are many. How to define it? Encouraging expression. Challenging orthodoxies. Batting aggressively|Attacking with