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The Life Cycle of a Phenomenon is often characterized by distinct phases.

1. The Big Idea

A charismatic leader or figureheads propose a revolutionary approach that promises a panacea for struggling players.

Thus we find ourselves. Preparations are underway to confront the system down in Brisbane. The gunships are circling. Smoke is rising from the sidelines. One individual, exposed, shivering, the words HIGH RELEASE POINT written on his body in chicken blood, has emerged from the field and is taken aside in secrecy towards an inconclusive loan stint elsewhere.

Do you recall the early days, when the world was still young? The initial phase, of uninhibited aggression.

2. Initial Adoration

Team architects guarantee a new start, optimism ahead, love, salvation among a group who all believe in the method.

What was this thing initially? A team united enjoying success. Tattoos. Strength. Determination. Confident masculinity. Oh sure, The team will claim Bazball doesn’t actually exist, which is funny because if it doesn’t exist, what was that spectacle?

Yet it’s clear its essence. It’s the player executing a stroke so outrageous it defies description. It’s the adrenaline of the captain in ultimate mode, a look that says: focused titan, beard made of wood, natural look, genuinely raw you wouldn’t be surprised to notice and find him positioned on the ground bare-chested holding a fish.

It’s the opener continuing to have permission to talk in press conferences, appearing as a cheerful animal in a waistcoat, expressing thoughts like we are actively deconstructing the orange. Certainly, the energy, initially, was uplifting.

3. Expansion Period

Building period. Unity enforced by rote learning of the cult’s slogans. These beliefs can appear contradictory to prove commitment.

Does anyone else feel? The reaction, the fury, the feeling of letdown post-defeat seems too strong, unwarranted. The batting collapsed on the field, as is typical there. They were savaged in the field for a couple of hours when tactics failed, outplayed by Travis Head playing aggressively but smarter, adaptive to conditions, a man playing with aura.

And now we have this the attacks, the rage, the perception of the team as a disgrace. The consensus is that losing isn’t enough, they should be dismantled, to be purged, flame-throwered, overwhelmed via traditional methods of the bowler’s action, the low-fi orthodoxies of the veteran, seen enjoying his wickets humbly similar to getting a nice new fishing rod. How will they respond?

4. Hate Bonding

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

The fact remains, a few days before the next match, we are at an intriguing moment in the story of this movement. They might succeed in the next Test through aggressive play. Probably, failure may follow. Should they fail it seems we could be witnessing the final stage.

Before that happens, a couple of points worth saying regarding this. More than two years ago, at the start, of light and heat, I wrote an article calling it a phenomenon. Criticism followed, which demonstrated since it’s clear the best way of proving that it’s not a closed group is should followers react defensively objecting to the questioning of its truths.

What has happened lately are equally notable. Criticism of the approach is now the trend. Social media is furious, disappointed commentators, shots of angry middle-aged supporters abroad disappointed by the short match, similar to people wanting fairness.

Meanwhile, there is the broader context of Australia’s more nuanced ingrained annoyance at these weirdly passive-aggressive buccaneers, claiming, the methods you value and have developed as part of your identity from the opposition, it’s just a joke after all.

And this is the real point. Everything is a cult. Bazball was a cult as the game has its own culture. Or rather, the sport in England is closed, a circle, a private event, a closed world with a long history of opaque and ritualistic cult history supporting it. Historically, this was where entry is limited. It’s the British pastime of England, the early image-makers. And notably, Britain is itself a cult, a series of esoteric hierarchies, a place that literally still has a king.

The players have been enclosed in this system since childhood. In trying to escape from it, to build a better atmosphere, they are mirroring their past, building another enclosure, a limited community, but doing it this time with a new team and a coach encouraging individuality if you fit the mold.

Live where your feet are. Run towards the danger. Despite efforts, you remain stuck.

With this mind, now is the time to show understanding for the approach, to appreciate its good points, that are numerous. How to define it? Promoting liberation. Questioning traditions. Batting aggressively|Attacking with