Should We See the Decline of the Movement of Attacking Play, Let’s Enjoy Its Impact.
The Life Cycle of a Cult tends to be defined by distinct phases.
1. The Core Concept
A charismatic leader or figureheads present an innovative concept pledging a cure for alienated and vulnerable people.
Thus we find ourselves. Plans are in motion to storm the compound in Australia. The gunships are circling. Signs of trouble appear from the out-houses. An isolated player, vulnerable, anxious, the slogan POSITIVE INTENT displayed prominently as a statement, has emerged through the lines and is removed under a blanket towards an inconclusive loan stint at Derbyshire.
Remember the early days, when optimism reigned? The days of Bazball 1.0, of pure instinct.
2. The Honeymoon Phase
Cult leaders promise a new start, hope for a future, camaraderie, success among a group united in belief in the method.
What was this thing back then? Players celebrating basking in glory. Tattoos. Forearms. Jawlines. Peak performance vibes. Admittedly, England’s players will claim it’s not a real term, amusingly because if it doesn’t exist, what did we see?
However, everyone understands the concept. It’s Harry Brook playing a shot so outrageous it’s beyond belief. It’s the excitement of the leader in his final form, a demeanor suggesting: thoughtful warrior, rugged appearance, natural look, so authentically Modern Savage you half-expect to look down and notice he’s fielding at mid-off stripped to the waist and cradling a wild salmon.
It’s the opener still being allowed to talk in press conferences, resembling a joyful figure in a waistcoat, expressing thoughts like we’re challenging norms. Indeed, the energy, for quite a long time, was only good energy.
3. A New Life
Building period. Togetherness strengthened through repetition of the cult’s slogans. These beliefs are often illogical to prove commitment.
Does anyone else feel? The backlash, the fury, the feeling of letdown after the first Ashes Test defeat feels overblown, overdone. The batting collapsed on the field, as they often do in Australia. They were torn apart while bowling in a short span as plans unraveled, outplayed by the batsman playing aggressively but smarter, adjusting to the pitch, an athlete shining with brilliance.
Now there is the criticism, the rage, the sense of English Test cricket as a disgrace. The feeling seems to be that losing isn’t enough, they should be dismantled, to be cleansed, destroyed, defeated by the vengeful purity of Mitchell Starc’s movements, the simple basics of Scott Boland, out there celebrating successes humbly as if receiving a rewarding prize. What will this do to them?
4. The Backlash Phase
Challenges surface due to setbacks. But the cult cannot admit errors. It starts to feed on hatred of the outside world.
The fact remains, approaching the upcoming game, we’ve entered a critical juncture in the lifespan of this approach. England could quite easily win in Brisbane through aggressive play. More likely, they could lose just as quickly. In case of defeat it seems we could be witnessing the final stage.
Ahead of this, several aspects to consider on the topic. More than two years ago, during the initial excitement, of passion and hope, a column appeared suggesting Bazball was a cult. There was outrage, which was helpful as it’s known the best way of proving something definitely isn’t a cult is when its acolytes send hundreds of furiously one-eyed messages rejecting criticism of the philosophy.
What has happened in the last few days is just as interesting. Criticism of the approach has turned into a movement. Social media is furious, critical analysts, shots of angry middle-aged followers overseas cheated out of three days of cricket, like a room full of investors demanding recourse.
Conversely, exists the larger scene of Australia’s more nuanced deep-seated frustration with the aggressive tourists, out there saying, hey, that thing you love and have developed as part of your identity culturally from us, it’s not serious ultimately.
This is the core issue. Everything is a cult. The style was a trend since the sport itself is insular. Or at least, the team has long been exclusive, a group, an elite gathering, a restricted environment with centuries of tradition and mystery defining it. This has always been a place where power and access are hoarded. It’s the British pastime of the nation, the original sports washers. And guess what, Britain is itself a cult, a series of esoteric hierarchies, a monarchy still exists.
England’s cricketers have been sealed up within this world since childhood. Attempting to break free, to create a less brutal environment, they are simply replicating their past, building another enclosure, a limited community, however with 15 cool guys and a mentor promoting authenticity provided you conform.
Stay present. Confront risks. But no matter how fast and far you run, you remain stuck.
With this mind, now is the time to show understanding for the movement, to acknowledge its merits, of which there are many. How to define it? Promoting liberation. Challenging orthodoxies. Batting aggressively|Attacking with
