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The Journey of a Movement tends to be marked by distinct phases.

1. The Big Idea

A charismatic leader or figureheads propose a revolutionary approach that promises a panacea for alienated and vulnerable people.

And so it goes. Plans are in motion to challenge the establishment overseas. Tensions are rising. Signs of trouble appear from the sidelines. One individual, naked, anxious, the words HIGH RELEASE POINT written on his body as a symbol, has emerged through the lines and is taken aside in secrecy to a different team elsewhere.

Do you ever miss the early days, when everything was fresh? The initial phase, of pure instinct.

2. The Honeymoon Phase

Movement founders offer a new start, optimism ahead, support, redemption among a group with shared faith in the big idea.

How did it feel initially? Just men on a balcony feeling good. Body art. Strength. Determination. Peak performance vibes. Admittedly, The team insist they don’t use the label, ironically since it’s not recognized, what was that spectacle?

Yet it’s clear what it is. It’s the player playing a shot so unconventional it defies description. It’s the thrill of the captain in ultimate mode, a look that says: pensive Nordic god, rugged appearance, untamed style, so authentically Modern Savage you almost imagine to look down and see him playing on the ground bare-chested embracing nature.

It’s the batsman still being allowed addressing the media, out there looking like a cheerful animal formally attired, expressing thoughts like we’re challenging norms. And yes, the atmosphere, for a significant period, was uplifting.

3. The Growth Phase

Building period. Unity enforced through repetition of mantras. These principles may seem irrational as a loyalty check.

Am I alone? The reaction, the fury, the feeling of letdown following the initial loss appears excessive, too much. The batting collapsed in Perth, as is typical there. They were dominated while bowling for a couple of hours as the bowling and captaincy fell apart, manipulated by the batsman imitating their style effectively, responsive to the situation, a man playing with aura.

Now there is the criticism, the rage, the sense of English Test cricket as a disgrace. The opinion suggests that England don’t just need to lose, they should be dismantled, to be scoured, flame-throwered, destroyed by the vengeful purity of the pace attack, the simple basics of the veteran, marking successes with a bashful smile as if receiving a pleasant gift. What impact will this have?

4. The Backlash Phase

Problems arise from failures in the plan. Yet, mistakes are denied. It starts to feed on hostility externally.

In truth, half a week out the next match, we’ve entered an intriguing moment in the lifespan of this movement. Victory is possible in Brisbane through aggressive play. Probably, they could lose just as quickly. Should they fail it appears we could be witnessing the death cult phase.

Ahead of this, a couple of points to consider regarding this. In the past, during the initial excitement, of optimism and energy, I wrote an article calling it a phenomenon. People were very angry, which demonstrated as it’s known the best way of proving that it’s not a closed group is when its acolytes send hundreds of furiously one-eyed messages objecting to the questioning of the philosophy.

Recent events lately are fascinating. Opposition to the style is now the trend. Social media is furious, angry English pundits, pictures of upset supporters abroad cheated out of three days of cricket, similar to people wanting fairness.

Conversely, there is the broader context of the host’s complex ingrained annoyance towards the unconventional visitors, stating, your cherished traditions and have honed to distinguish yourselves culturally from us, it’s just a joke after all.

And this is the real point. It’s all cults. The style was a trend since the sport itself is insular. Or rather, English cricket has always been a cult, a circle, a private event, a closed world with two hundred years of opaque and ritualistic cult history behind it. Historically, this was where influence is guarded. It’s the imperial sport of the British, the pioneering brand. And surprisingly, the country is a phenomenon, a series of esoteric hierarchies, a place that literally still has a king.

England’s cricketers have been sealed up within this world since childhood. Seeking change, to create a less brutal environment, they are simply replicating their past, building another enclosure, a limited community, however with a modern squad and a coach encouraging individuality as long as yourself is quite a lot like myself.

Stay present. Confront risks. However much you change, things stay similar.

Reflecting on this, now is the time to show understanding for Bazball, to appreciate its good points, which are significant. What is Bazball? Encouraging expression. Questioning traditions. Batting aggressively|Attacking with