Should We Observe the Decline of the Cult of Attacking Play, Let’s Savour What It Created.

The Life Cycle of a Cult can be characterized by distinct phases.

1. The Core Concept

A charismatic leader or leaders propose a new and transcendent idea that promises a cure for disconnected individuals.

So here we are. Preparations are underway to challenge the establishment in Australia. The gunships are circling. Conflict emerges from the sidelines. An isolated player, naked, nervous, the words HIGH RELEASE POINT written on his body as a statement, has emerged from the field and is removed with discretion towards an inconclusive loan stint elsewhere.

Do you recall the start, when optimism reigned? The initial phase, of Bazball without brains.

2. The Honeymoon Phase

Cult leaders promise a reboot, a brighter tomorrow, camaraderie, salvation together with shared faith in the method.

What did it represent at first? Players celebrating feeling good. Tattoos. Forearms. Determination. Confident masculinity. Admittedly, England’s players insist Bazball doesn’t actually exist, amusingly as it’s denied, what did we see?

But we know what it is. It’s the batsman attempting a move so depraved it’s beyond belief. It’s the adrenaline of Ben Stokes in his final form, a look that says: pensive Nordic god, rugged appearance, untamed style, genuinely raw you half-expect to look down and notice he’s fielding at mid-off bare-chested and cradling a wild salmon.

It’s the opener continuing to have permission to talk in press conferences, resembling a happy little woodland creature formally attired, expressing thoughts like we’re breaking down traditions. Certainly, the energy, initially, was uplifting.

3. The Growth Phase

Development stage. Togetherness strengthened through repetition of key phrases. These ideas can appear contradictory as a test of “true belief”.

Does anyone else feel? The reaction, the anger, the disappointment post-defeat appears excessive, overdone. England batted badly in Perth, as is typical there. They were savaged while bowling in a short span as the bowling and captaincy fell apart, outplayed by the opponent imitating their style effectively, adjusting to the pitch, an athlete shining with brilliance.

Currently, we see the attacks, the anger, the view of the sport as a failure. The feeling seems to be that England don’t just need to lose, they must be humbled, to be scoured, destroyed, defeated by the vengeful purity of the pace attack, the low-fi orthodoxies of the bowler, seen enjoying successes modestly as if receiving a nice new fishing rod. What will this do to them?

4. The Backlash Phase

Problems arise from failures in the plan. But the cult cannot admit errors. It begins to thrive on hatred of the outside world.

Ultimately, half a week out the next match, we are at a delicious point of tension in the journey of this approach. England could quite easily win in Brisbane in a blur of adrenal disruption. Alternatively, they could lose just as quickly. In case of defeat it feels like we could be witnessing the final stage.

Ahead of this, a couple of points to note on the topic. In the past, during the initial excitement, of optimism and energy, a column appeared calling it a phenomenon. Criticism followed, which proved the point because everyone knows how to confirm that it’s not a closed group is if supporters send hundreds of furiously one-eyed messages rejecting criticism of the beliefs.

Recent events recently are equally notable. Criticism of the approach has now become the cult. Online outrage is widespread, angry English pundits, images of frustrated followers overseas disappointed by the short match, like a room full of people wanting fairness.

On the other hand, we have the wider backdrop of the opponent’s mixed more culturally hard-wired exasperation at these weirdly passive-aggressive buccaneers, out there saying, your cherished traditions and have fostered and nurtured to distinguish yourselves from others, it’s not serious in the end old boy.

And this is the real point. All movements are similar. Bazball was a cult as the game has its own culture. Or rather, English cricket has always been a cult, a clique, a garden party, an insular community with two hundred years of tradition and mystery supporting it. This has always been a place where power and access are hoarded. It’s the imperial sport of the nation, the early image-makers. And notably, Britain is itself a cult, a system of unknown levels, a place that literally still has a king.

The team have been sealed up within this world for years. In trying to escape from it, to build a better atmosphere, they are mirroring their own experience, creating another a bubble, a closed circle, but doing it this time with a new team and a mentor who wants you to be yourself provided you conform.

Focus on the moment. Run towards the danger. But no matter how fast and far you run, you’re always basically in the same place.

Considering this, it is perhaps the moment to offer compassion for the approach, to appreciate its good points, of which there are many. What is Bazball? Promoting liberation. Challenging orthodoxies. Batting aggressively|Attacking with