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The Life Cycle of a Cult tends to be defined by clear stages.

1. The Grand Vision

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

So here we are. Plans are in motion to confront the system in Australia. The gunships are circling. Conflict emerges from the sidelines. A lone figure, naked, nervous, the words HIGH RELEASE POINT displayed prominently as a statement, has emerged through the lines and is taken aside under a blanket to a different team in county cricket.

Do you recall the early days, when everything was fresh? The days of Bazball 1.0, of uninhibited aggression.

2. Love-Bombing

Movement founders promise a fresh beginning, a brighter tomorrow, love, success together who all believe in the big idea.

What was this thing at first? Just men on a balcony enjoying success. Ink. Strength. Jawlines. Elite male wellness energy. Oh sure, The squad often say it’s not a real term, ironically because if it doesn’t exist, what exactly did I just watch?

Yet it’s clear the concept. It’s the player playing a shot so unconventional it defies description. It’s the adrenaline of Ben Stokes in his final form, a look that says: thoughtful warrior, beard made of wood, natural look, so authentically Modern Savage you half-expect to notice and see him playing in the field bare-chested and cradling a wild salmon.

It’s the batsman still being allowed speaking publicly, appearing as a cheerful animal smartly dressed, expressing thoughts like we’re challenging norms. Indeed, the atmosphere, for a significant period, was uplifting.

3. A New Life

Development stage. Togetherness strengthened by rote learning of the cult’s slogans. These principles can appear contradictory as a test of “true belief”.

Does anyone else feel? The criticism, the outrage, the feeling of letdown post-defeat appears excessive, overdone. The performance was poor during the match, as they often do in Australia. They were torn apart defensively in a short span as the bowling and captaincy fell apart, manipulated by the batsman batting like England but better, responsive to the situation, a man playing with a kind of light around him.

Now there is the criticism, the rage, the view of the sport as a kind of abomination. The feeling seems to be that defeat must be total, they must be humbled, to be scoured, flame-throwered, defeated via traditional methods of the pace attack, the low-fi orthodoxies of the veteran, out there celebrating successes modestly as if receiving a nice new fishing rod. What will this do to them?

4. External Conflict

Challenges surface due to setbacks. However, faults are ignored. It begins to thrive on hatred of the outside world.

Ultimately, a few days before the next match, we are at a delicious point of tension in the lifespan of this thing. England could quite easily win overseas with bold tactics. Alternatively, they could lose just as quickly. In case of defeat it appears we may see the death cult phase.

Ahead of this, several aspects to note about this. More than two years ago, during the initial excitement, of light and heat, I wrote an article labeling it a movement. There was outrage, which was helpful as it’s known a method to show that it’s not a closed group is if supporters send hundreds of furiously one-eyed messages rejecting criticism of the beliefs.

What has happened in the last few days are fascinating. Criticism of the approach is now the trend. We have a uniformly angry internet, disappointed commentators, pictures of upset followers overseas cheated out of three days of cricket, similar to people wanting fairness.

Conversely, we have the wider backdrop of Australia’s more nuanced ingrained annoyance towards the unconventional visitors, out there saying, the methods you value and have honed to distinguish yourselves culturally from us, well, it’s all a bit of a gag after all.

And this is the real point. All movements are similar. The style was a trend because cricket is a cult. Or rather, the team has long been exclusive, a circle, a garden party, a restricted environment with two hundred years of ceremonial past defining it. It has long been where entry is limited. It’s the British pastime of the nation, the early image-makers. And notably, Britain is itself a cult, a series of esoteric hierarchies, a royal family remains.

The players have been sealed up in this system for years. Attempting to break free, to foster positivity, they are just repeating their upbringing, creating another a bubble, a closed circle, however with a new team and a coach promoting authenticity provided you conform.

Live where your feet are. Embrace challenges. However much you change, things stay similar.

Considering this, now is the time to have some sympathy for the movement, to acknowledge its merits, which are significant. What does it represent? Encouraging expression. Defying norms. Batting aggressively|Attacking with