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The Journey of a Phenomenon is often defined by specific steps.

1. The Big Idea

A charismatic leader or figureheads present a new and transcendent idea pledging a panacea for alienated and vulnerable people.

So here we are. Preparations are underway to confront the system down in Brisbane. Tensions are rising. Smoke is rising from the out-houses. A lone figure, vulnerable, anxious, the slogan POSITIVE INTENT written on his body as a symbol, has emerged through the lines and is being led away with discretion for a temporary assignment in county cricket.

Do you recall the beginning, when the world was still young? The initial phase, of pure instinct.

2. Love-Bombing

Team architects promise a reboot, a brighter tomorrow, support, redemption together with shared faith in the philosophy.

What did it represent initially? A team united feeling good. Ink. Muscles. Determination. Elite male wellness energy. Admittedly, England’s players often say they don’t use the label, ironically since it’s not recognized, what did we see?

However, everyone understands the concept. It’s Harry Brook playing a shot so unconventional it defies description. It’s the adrenaline of the captain in his final form, an expression conveying: thoughtful warrior, rugged appearance, hair woven from beaver hide, so authentically Modern Savage you half-expect to look down and find him positioned at mid-off stripped to the waist embracing nature.

It’s Ben Duckett still being allowed to talk in press conferences, out there looking like a cheerful animal smartly dressed, expressing thoughts like we’re challenging norms. Indeed, the energy, for a significant period, was only good energy.

3. The Growth Phase

Building period. Unity enforced via memorization of key phrases. These beliefs are often illogical as a test of “true belief”.

Is it just me? The reaction, the outrage, the sense of betrayal after the first Ashes Test defeat feels overblown, too much. England batted badly in Perth, as is typical there. They were dominated while bowling for a couple of hours as the bowling and captaincy fell apart, carved around by the opponent batting like England but better, responsive to the situation, an athlete shining with aura.

Currently, we see the criticism, the rage, the sense of English Test cricket as a failure. The feeling seems to be that losing isn’t enough, they should be dismantled, to be cleansed, destroyed, overwhelmed by the vengeful purity of the pace attack, the low-fi orthodoxies of Scott Boland, marking his wickets humbly similar to getting a nice new fishing rod. How will they respond?

4. Hate Bonding

Issues emerge from failures in the plan. But the cult cannot admit errors. It starts to feed on anger towards critics.

In truth, a few days before the upcoming game, we’ve entered an intriguing moment in the journey of this thing. England could quite easily win in Brisbane with bold tactics. Alternatively, defeat could come swiftly. Should they fail it feels like we may see the death cult phase.

Ahead of this, several aspects to note regarding this. Previously, during the initial excitement, of optimism and energy, a column appeared calling it a phenomenon. Criticism followed, which demonstrated because everyone knows the best way of proving lack of cult status is should followers respond with anger rejecting criticism of the philosophy.

What has happened recently are fascinating. It seems that hating Bazball is now the trend. Online outrage is widespread, critical analysts, pictures of upset travelling fans cheated out of three days of cricket, reminiscent of investors demanding recourse.

Conversely, we have the wider backdrop of the host’s complex more culturally hard-wired exasperation towards the unconventional visitors, claiming, the methods you value and have honed to distinguish yourselves from others, it’s just a joke ultimately.

This is the core issue. All movements are similar. The style was a trend since the sport itself is insular. In fact, the team has long been exclusive, a clique, an elite gathering, an insular community with a long history of tradition and mystery supporting it. Historically, this was where entry is limited. It’s the imperial sport of the nation, the early image-makers. And surprisingly, the country is a phenomenon, a structure of hidden ranks, a place that literally still has a king.

The players have been enclosed in this environment since childhood. Attempting to break free, to build a better atmosphere, they are simply replicating their own experience, building another enclosure, an exclusive group, however with a modern squad and a leader who wants you to be yourself as long as yourself is quite a lot like myself.

Focus on the moment. Run towards the danger. Despite efforts, you’re always basically in the same place.

Reflecting on this, it might be appropriate to have some sympathy for the approach, to acknowledge its merits, which are significant. What does it represent? Promoting liberation. Defying norms. Batting aggressively|Attacking with