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The Journey of a Phenomenon is often characterized by clear stages.

1. The Big Idea

A charismatic leader or figureheads propose an innovative concept pledging a cure for disconnected individuals.

So here we are. Plans are in motion to confront the system in Australia. The gunships are circling. Conflict emerges from the sidelines. An isolated player, naked, nervous, the phrase ATTACKING MINDSET written on his body as a symbol, has emerged through the lines and is removed with discretion to a different team at Derbyshire.

Do you recall the start, when optimism reigned? The days of Bazball 1.0, of pure instinct.

2. The Honeymoon Phase

Cult leaders offer a new start, optimism ahead, love, redemption within a community who all believe in the method.

What did it represent initially? Just men on a balcony enjoying success. Tattoos. Strength. Determination. Elite male wellness energy. Of course, England’s players will claim it’s not a real term, amusingly because if it doesn’t exist, what did we see?

Yet it’s clear the concept. It’s the batsman executing a stroke so unconventional it defies description. It’s the excitement of Ben Stokes in ultimate mode, a demeanor suggesting: pensive Nordic god, strong features, natural look, truly contemporary you wouldn’t be surprised to notice and find him positioned on the ground shirtless and cradling a wild salmon.

It’s the batsman still being allowed addressing the media, out there looking like a happy little woodland creature formally attired, expressing thoughts like we are actively deconstructing the orange. And yes, the atmosphere, for a significant period, was uplifting.

3. A New Life

Growth phase. Cohesion maintained by rote learning of mantras. These principles can appear contradictory as a test of “true belief”.

Am I alone? The reaction, the fury, the sense of betrayal post-defeat appears excessive, unwarranted. England batted badly during the match, as is typical there. They were torn apart in the field during a brief period when tactics failed, carved around by Travis Head imitating their style effectively, adaptive to conditions, a man playing with a kind of light around him.

And now we have this the pile-on, the anger, the sense of English Test cricket as a kind of abomination. The opinion suggests that losing isn’t enough, they must be humbled, to be cleansed, obliterated, destroyed through sheer skill of the pace attack, the simple basics of Scott Boland, seen enjoying successes modestly similar to getting a nice new fishing rod. How will they respond?

4. Hate Bonding

Challenges surface due to setbacks. However, faults are ignored. It starts to feed on anger towards critics.

In truth, a few days before from the second Test, we are at an intriguing moment in the lifespan of this thing. They might succeed in the next Test through aggressive play. Probably, they could lose just as quickly. Should they fail it feels like we could be witnessing the final stage.

Prior to that, a couple of points to note regarding this. In the past, at the start, of optimism and energy, a column appeared calling it a phenomenon. There was outrage, which demonstrated because everyone knows the best way of proving that it’s not a closed group is should followers send hundreds of furiously one-eyed messages denying scrutiny of its truths.

What has happened recently is just as interesting. Criticism of the approach has now become the cult. Online outrage is widespread, disappointed commentators, images of frustrated followers overseas missing out on play, reminiscent of timeshare owners seeking justice.

Conversely, we have the wider backdrop of the opponent’s mixed ingrained annoyance with the aggressive tourists, claiming, hey, that thing you love and have fostered and nurtured as one way of separating yourself culturally from us, it’s just a joke in the end old boy.

And this is the real point. Everything is a cult. The style was a trend as the game has its own culture. Or rather, the sport in England is closed, a clique, a garden party, an insular community with centuries of opaque and ritualistic cult history supporting it. This has always been where entry is limited. It’s the imperial sport of England, the early image-makers. And guess what, the nation has its own culture, a structure of hidden ranks, a monarchy still exists.

The players have been sealed up in this system for years. Seeking change, to build a better atmosphere, they are simply replicating their past, forming a new circle, a limited community, but doing it this time with a new team and a coach encouraging individuality as long as yourself is quite a lot like myself.

Live where your feet are. Confront risks. Despite efforts, you remain stuck.

Considering this, it is perhaps the moment to offer compassion for the approach, to recognize its positives, that are numerous. How to define it? Promoting liberation. Defying norms. Batting aggressively|Attacking with