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

1. The Big Idea

A charismatic leader or coaches propose a new and transcendent idea pledging a cure for alienated and vulnerable people.

Thus we find ourselves. Preparations are underway to confront the system down in Brisbane. Pressure is mounting. Signs of trouble appear from the out-houses. A lone figure, exposed, anxious, the slogan POSITIVE INTENT smeared across his chest as a symbol, has stumbled into view and is removed under a blanket for a temporary assignment at Derbyshire.

Do you recall the start, when everything was fresh? The initial phase, of uninhibited aggression.

2. Initial Adoration

Team architects offer a fresh beginning, hope for a future, love, salvation among a group with shared faith in the big idea.

What did it represent initially? Just men on a balcony basking in glory. Body art. Forearms. Focus. Confident masculinity. Admittedly, The team often say they don’t use the label, amusingly because if it doesn’t exist, what exactly did I just watch?

However, everyone understands its essence. It’s the player executing a stroke so outrageous it defies description. It’s the thrill of Ben Stokes in his final form, an expression conveying: focused titan, strong features, untamed style, genuinely raw you half-expect to notice and find him positioned on the ground bare-chested and cradling a wild salmon.

It’s Ben Duckett still being allowed to talk in press conferences, out there looking like a happy little woodland creature formally attired, expressing thoughts like we’re breaking down traditions. And yes, the atmosphere, initially, was uplifting.

3. Expansion Period

Building period. Togetherness strengthened through repetition of mantras. These beliefs may seem irrational to prove commitment.

Is it just me? The backlash, the fury, the feeling of letdown post-defeat appears excessive, unwarranted. The batting collapsed on the field, as they often do in Australia. They were torn apart in the field for a couple of hours when tactics failed, outplayed by the opponent imitating their style effectively, adjusting to the pitch, a performer excelling with a kind of light around him.

And now we have this the pile-on, the anger, the view of the sport as a failure. The opinion suggests that losing isn’t enough, they must be humbled, to be purged, destroyed, overwhelmed by the vengeful purity of the bowler’s action, the conventional tactics of Scott Boland, marking successes humbly as if receiving a pleasant gift. How will they respond?

4. Hate Bonding

Problems arise from failures in the plan. But the cult cannot admit errors. It turns to anger towards critics.

In truth, half a week out from the second Test, we’ve entered a critical juncture in the journey of this thing. England could quite easily win in the next Test with bold tactics. More likely, failure may follow. Should they fail it seems we could be witnessing the final stage.

Ahead of this, a couple of points to note regarding this. More than two years ago, back in those heady early days, of passion and hope, I wrote an article suggesting Bazball was a cult. There was outrage, which was helpful as it’s known how to confirm something definitely isn’t a cult is if supporters react defensively objecting to the questioning of the philosophy.

What has happened lately are fascinating. Opposition to the style has turned into a movement. Online outrage is widespread, disappointed commentators, pictures of upset followers overseas disappointed by the short match, reminiscent of timeshare owners seeking justice.

On the other hand, exists the larger scene of Australia’s more nuanced more culturally hard-wired exasperation towards the unconventional visitors, stating, hey, that thing you love and have fostered and nurtured to distinguish yourselves from the opposition, it’s just a joke ultimately.

This is the core issue. It’s all cults. The approach was a phenomenon because cricket is a cult. Or rather, the team has long been exclusive, a circle, an elite gathering, a closed world with centuries of opaque and ritualistic cult history behind it. Historically, this was where entry is limited. It’s the colonial game of the nation, the early image-makers. And guess what, the country is a phenomenon, a series of esoteric hierarchies, a royal family remains.

England’s cricketers have been isolated in this environment since childhood. Seeking change, to build a better atmosphere, they are just repeating their past, forming a new circle, an exclusive group, but doing it this time with a modern squad and a coach encouraging individuality if you fit the mold.

Focus on the moment. Confront risks. But no matter how fast and far you run, things stay similar.

Reflecting on this, it might be appropriate to have some sympathy for Bazball, to recognize its positives, that are numerous. What is Bazball? Encouraging expression. Questioning traditions. Batting aggressively|Attacking with