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The Evolution of a Cult can be characterized by clear stages.

1. The Grand Vision

An inspiring figure or coaches present a new and transcendent idea offering a panacea for alienated and vulnerable people.

And so it goes. Preparations are underway to storm the compound overseas. Pressure is mounting. Signs of trouble appear from the out-houses. An isolated player, naked, anxious, the words HIGH RELEASE POINT written on his body as a symbol, has stumbled from the field and is taken aside with discretion to a different team at Derbyshire.

Do you ever miss the start, when the world was still young? The days of Bazball 1.0, of pure instinct.

2. The Honeymoon Phase

Team architects promise a new start, optimism ahead, love, salvation within a community with shared faith in the method.

How did it feel at first? A team united feeling good. Body art. Strength. Focus. Confident masculinity. Admittedly, The team will claim they don’t use the label, which is funny since it’s not recognized, what was that spectacle?

But we know its essence. It’s the batsman playing a shot so depraved it defies description. It’s the excitement of the captain in ultimate mode, a look that says: focused titan, rugged appearance, untamed style, truly contemporary you half-expect to notice and find him positioned at mid-off stripped to the waist and cradling a wild salmon.

It’s Ben Duckett often seen to talk in press conferences, out there looking like a cheerful animal in a waistcoat, expressing thoughts like we’re breaking down traditions. Indeed, the vibe, initially, was entirely positive.

3. A New Life

Development stage. Togetherness strengthened by rote learning of the cult’s slogans. These principles may seem irrational as a loyalty check.

Does anyone else feel? The backlash, the fury, the feeling of letdown post-defeat appears excessive, overdone. The batting collapsed during the match, as history shows. They were torn apart defensively for a couple of hours as the bowling and captaincy fell apart, carved around by the batsman imitating their style effectively, responsive to the situation, an athlete shining with brilliance.

And now we have this the criticism, the rage, the perception of the team as a disgrace. The feeling seems to be that defeat must be total, they should be dismantled, to be scoured, flame-throwered, defeated via traditional methods of the bowler’s action, the low-fi orthodoxies of the bowler, seen enjoying achievements humbly as if receiving a rewarding prize. What will this do to them?

4. External Conflict

Issues emerge because of mistakes. Yet, mistakes are denied. It turns to anger towards critics.

Ultimately, approaching the upcoming game, we’ve entered a delicious point of tension in the journey of this approach. England could quite easily win overseas with bold tactics. More likely, defeat could come swiftly. In case of defeat it appears we really might be entering the death cult phase.

Before that happens, there are two things worth saying about this. Previously, during the initial excitement, of light and heat, I wrote an article labeling it a movement. There was outrage, which proved the point since it’s clear the best way of proving something definitely isn’t a cult is should followers send hundreds of furiously one-eyed messages objecting to the questioning of its truths.

The developments in the last few days is just as interesting. It seems that hating Bazball has turned into a movement. Social media is furious, critical analysts, pictures of upset followers overseas disappointed by the short match, reminiscent of timeshare owners seeking justice.

Conversely, there is the broader context of the host’s complex more culturally hard-wired exasperation towards the unconventional visitors, claiming, your cherished traditions and have honed to distinguish yourselves from the opposition, it’s not serious ultimately.

Here lies the truth. Everything is a cult. Bazball was a cult as the game has its own culture. In fact, the sport in England is closed, a clique, an elite gathering, a restricted environment with centuries of tradition and mystery defining it. This has always been where entry is limited. It’s the colonial game of the nation, the pioneering brand. And guess what, Britain is itself a cult, a system of unknown levels, a royal family remains.

England’s cricketers have been sealed up in this system since childhood. In trying to escape from it, to foster positivity, they are just repeating their upbringing, building another enclosure, a closed circle, however with a modern squad and a leader promoting authenticity provided you conform.

Stay present. Run towards the danger. However much you change, you remain stuck.

Considering this, now is the time to show understanding for the movement, to acknowledge its merits, which are significant. What does it represent? Encouraging expression. Challenging orthodoxies. Batting aggressively|Attacking with