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The Journey of a Cult is often marked by clear stages.

1. The Core Concept

A charismatic leader or coaches present a new and transcendent idea that promises a solution for alienated and vulnerable people.

So here we are. Plans are in motion to challenge the establishment overseas. Tensions are rising. Conflict emerges from within. An isolated player, naked, nervous, the phrase ATTACKING MINDSET displayed prominently as a statement, has emerged into view and is being led away in secrecy for a temporary assignment at Derbyshire.

Do you recall the beginning, when the world was still young? The days of Bazball 1.0, of Bazball without brains.

2. Love-Bombing

Cult leaders promise a new start, optimism ahead, support, success together with shared faith in the method.

What was this thing at first? A team united basking in glory. Ink. Strength. Focus. Peak performance vibes. Of course, The squad insist they don’t use the label, which is funny because if it doesn’t exist, what exactly did I just watch?

However, everyone understands its essence. It’s Harry Brook attempting a move so depraved it’s beyond belief. It’s the adrenaline of the leader in ultimate mode, a demeanor suggesting: pensive Nordic god, rugged appearance, hair woven from beaver hide, so authentically Modern Savage you wouldn’t be surprised to glance over and notice he’s fielding at mid-off bare-chested holding a fish.

It’s the batsman continuing to have permission addressing the media, appearing as a cheerful animal in a waistcoat, expressing thoughts like we are actively deconstructing the orange. Indeed, the energy, initially, was only good energy.

3. The Growth Phase

Development stage. Togetherness strengthened through repetition of the cult’s slogans. These principles may seem irrational as a test of “true belief”.

Does anyone else feel? The criticism, the fury, the feeling of letdown following the initial loss feels overblown, overdone. England batted badly during the match, as history shows. They were dominated defensively in a short span when tactics failed, carved around by the opponent playing aggressively but smarter, adjusting to the pitch, a man playing with brilliance.

And now we have this the pile-on, the frustration, the perception of the team as a disgrace. The consensus is that defeat must be total, they must be humbled, to be scoured, obliterated, overwhelmed by the vengeful purity of Mitchell Starc’s movements, the conventional tactics of Scott Boland, out there celebrating achievements with a bashful smile similar to getting a rewarding prize. What will this do to them?

4. The Backlash Phase

Challenges surface due to setbacks. Yet, mistakes are denied. It starts to feed on anger towards critics.

Ultimately, approaching the next match, we’ve entered an intriguing moment in the journey of this thing. England could quite easily win in the next Test in a blur of adrenal disruption. More likely, they could lose just as quickly. In case of defeat it feels like we really might be entering the death cult phase.

Before that happens, there are two things to consider about this. In the past, back in those heady early days, of optimism and energy, I wrote an article calling it a phenomenon. There was outrage, which was helpful as it’s known how to confirm that it’s not a closed group is should followers react defensively rejecting criticism of its truths.

Recent events lately are equally notable. Opposition to the style is now the trend. Online outrage is widespread, disappointed commentators, shots of angry middle-aged travelling fans disappointed by the short match, reminiscent of timeshare owners seeking justice.

Conversely, we have the wider backdrop of the host’s complex ingrained annoyance with the aggressive tourists, stating, the methods you value and have fostered and nurtured to distinguish yourselves culturally from us, it’s just a joke ultimately.

And this is the real point. It’s all cults. Bazball was a cult as the game has its own culture. Or at least, the team has long been exclusive, a circle, a garden party, an insular community with a long history of ceremonial past supporting it. Historically, this was a place where power and access are hoarded. It’s the imperial sport of the nation, the original sports washers. And surprisingly, the country is a phenomenon, a system of unknown levels, a royal family remains.

The team have been sealed up in this system for years. Attempting to break free, to build a better atmosphere, they are just repeating their own experience, forming a new circle, a closed circle, but doing it this time with a new team and a mentor promoting authenticity as long as yourself is quite a lot like myself.

Live where your feet are. Confront risks. However much you change, things stay similar.

With this mind, now is the time to show understanding for the approach, to recognize its positives, of which there are many. How to define it? Encouraging expression. Defying norms. Batting aggressively|Attacking with