🔗 Share this article

The Journey of a Phenomenon tends to be defined by clear stages.

1. The Big Idea

An inspiring figure or figureheads present a revolutionary approach offering a cure for disconnected individuals.

And so it goes. Plans are in motion to storm the compound overseas. Pressure is mounting. Smoke is rising from the sidelines. An isolated player, exposed, nervous, the phrase ATTACKING MINDSET displayed prominently as a symbol, has stumbled from the field and is removed with discretion to a different team in county cricket.

Do you ever miss the beginning, when optimism reigned? The days of Bazball 1.0, of Bazball without brains.

2. Initial Adoration

Movement founders offer a reboot, hope for a future, support, success together who all believe in the philosophy.

What did it represent initially? Players celebrating enjoying success. Ink. Strength. Jawlines. Confident masculinity. Oh sure, The team will claim Bazball doesn’t actually exist, which is funny as it’s denied, what exactly did I just watch?

But we know what it is. It’s the batsman executing a stroke so outrageous it defies description. It’s the thrill of Ben Stokes in ultimate mode, a look that says: focused titan, rugged appearance, untamed style, genuinely raw you wouldn’t be surprised to look down and see him playing in the field bare-chested and cradling a wild salmon.

It’s the opener still being allowed addressing the media, out there looking like a happy little woodland creature formally attired, uttering phrases such as we’re breaking down traditions. Certainly, the vibe, initially, was entirely positive.

3. The Growth Phase

Development stage. Togetherness strengthened via memorization of the cult’s slogans. These ideas may seem irrational as a loyalty check.

Am I alone? The reaction, the anger, the disappointment after the first Ashes Test defeat seems too strong, unwarranted. England batted badly on the field, as history shows. They were torn apart while bowling in a short span as plans unraveled, manipulated by the batsman imitating their style effectively, adjusting to the pitch, a man playing with a kind of light around him.

Currently, we see the criticism, the anger, the perception of the team as a kind of abomination. The consensus is that defeat must be total, they must be humbled, to be scoured, flame-throwered, destroyed through sheer skill of the pace attack, the simple basics of the bowler, marking successes with a bashful smile like he’s just been given a nice new fishing rod. How will they respond?

4. The Backlash Phase

Issues emerge due to setbacks. But the cult cannot admit errors. It starts to feed on anger towards critics.

The fact remains, a few days before the upcoming game, we have now reached a critical juncture in the story of this movement. They might succeed in Brisbane with bold tactics. Probably, failure may follow. In case of defeat it appears we could be witnessing the final stage.

Before that happens, several aspects to note on the topic. In the past, back in those heady early days, of passion and hope, a column appeared labeling it a movement. Criticism followed, which demonstrated because everyone knows how to confirm that it’s not a closed group is when its acolytes send hundreds of furiously one-eyed messages denying scrutiny of its truths.

Recent events in the last few days are equally notable. Opposition to the style is now the trend. Online outrage is widespread, angry English pundits, pictures of upset travelling fans cheated out of three days of cricket, like a room full of timeshare owners seeking justice.

On the other hand, there is the broader context of Australia’s more nuanced deep-seated frustration with the aggressive tourists, claiming, the methods you value and have fostered and nurtured as part of your identity culturally from us, well, it’s all a bit of a gag in the end old boy.

And this is the real point. Everything is a cult. The style was a trend because cricket is a cult. In fact, the team has long been exclusive, a group, an elite gathering, a closed world with two hundred years of opaque and ritualistic cult history defining it. It has long been where entry is limited. It’s the imperial sport of the nation, the pioneering brand. And guess what, the country is a phenomenon, a series of esoteric hierarchies, a monarchy still exists.

The team have been isolated within this world for years. Attempting to break free, to build a better atmosphere, they are simply replicating their past, forming a new circle, a closed circle, but now with 15 cool guys and a leader who wants you to be yourself as long as yourself is quite a lot like myself.

Live where your feet are. Confront risks. Despite efforts, you’re always basically in the same place.

With this mind, now is the time to offer compassion for the movement, to acknowledge its merits, of which there are many. What does it represent? Creating a sense of freedom. Challenging orthodoxies. Batting aggressively|Attacking with