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The Life Cycle of a Movement can be marked by specific steps.

1. The Grand Vision

A dominant personality or leaders introduce a new and transcendent idea that promises a cure for alienated and vulnerable people.

So here we are. Preparations are underway to challenge the establishment in Australia. The gunships are circling. Smoke is rising from the sidelines. A lone figure, exposed, anxious, the words HIGH RELEASE POINT written on his body in chicken blood, has emerged through the lines and is removed in secrecy for a temporary assignment elsewhere.

Remember the beginning, when optimism reigned? The days of Bazball 1.0, of uninhibited aggression.

2. The Honeymoon Phase

Team architects guarantee a fresh beginning, a brighter tomorrow, camaraderie, redemption among a group united in belief in the philosophy.

How did it feel initially? Just men on a balcony enjoying success. Tattoos. Strength. Focus. Confident masculinity. Of course, The squad insist they don’t use the label, which is funny as it’s denied, what was that spectacle?

But we know its essence. It’s Harry Brook executing a stroke so unconventional it defies description. It’s the adrenaline of the leader in his final form, a demeanor suggesting: pensive Nordic god, beard made of wood, natural look, truly contemporary you wouldn’t be surprised to look down and see him playing at mid-off shirtless and cradling a wild salmon.

It’s the batsman still being allowed speaking publicly, out there looking like a happy little woodland creature formally attired, saying stuff like we’re breaking down traditions. Certainly, the atmosphere, initially, was entirely positive.

3. The Growth Phase

Growth phase. Cohesion maintained by rote learning of the cult’s slogans. These ideas may seem irrational as a test of “true belief”.

Does anyone else feel? The reaction, the anger, the sense of betrayal following the initial loss seems too strong, too much. The performance was poor in Perth, as history shows. They were dominated in the field during a brief period as the bowling and captaincy fell apart, outplayed by the batsman batting like England but better, adaptive to conditions, a man playing with brilliance.

And now we have this the pile-on, the rage, the sense of English Test cricket as a kind of abomination. The feeling seems to be that defeat must be total, they must be humbled, to be cleansed, flame-throwered, overwhelmed via traditional methods of Mitchell Starc’s movements, the conventional tactics of Scott Boland, marking his wickets modestly like he’s just been given a pleasant gift. How will they respond?

4. The Backlash Phase

Problems arise from failures in the plan. Yet, mistakes are denied. It starts to feed on hatred of the outside world.

In truth, half a week out the upcoming game, we’ve entered an intriguing moment in the journey of this thing. Victory is possible in Brisbane through aggressive play. More likely, they could lose just as quickly. Should they fail it seems we could be witnessing the death cult phase.

Prior to that, a couple of points to consider regarding this. In the past, back in those heady early days, of passion and hope, a column appeared calling it a phenomenon. There was outrage, which demonstrated because everyone knows a method to show lack of cult status is when its acolytes send hundreds of furiously one-eyed messages rejecting criticism of the beliefs.

Recent events recently is just as interesting. Criticism of the approach is now the trend. We have a uniformly angry internet, critical analysts, shots of angry middle-aged followers overseas disappointed by the short match, similar to people wanting fairness.

Meanwhile, we have the wider backdrop of the host’s complex deep-seated frustration at these weirdly passive-aggressive buccaneers, out there saying, hey, that thing you love and have fostered and nurtured as part of your identity culturally from us, it’s just a joke in the end old boy.

Here lies the truth. All movements are similar. The approach was a phenomenon since the sport itself is insular. Or rather, the team has long been exclusive, a circle, a garden party, a restricted environment with two hundred years of ceremonial past behind it. Historically, this was where influence is guarded. It’s the imperial sport of the British, the early image-makers. And notably, the nation has its own culture, a series of esoteric hierarchies, a monarchy still exists.

The team have been isolated in this system for years. Attempting to break free, to create a less brutal environment, they are mirroring their own experience, forming a new circle, a limited community, but doing it this time with 15 cool guys and a coach encouraging individuality provided you conform.

Live where your feet are. Run towards the danger. Despite efforts, things stay similar.

With this mind, it is perhaps the moment to offer compassion for Bazball, to appreciate its good points, of which there are many. What does it represent? Creating a sense of freedom. Challenging orthodoxies. Batting aggressively|Attacking with