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The Journey of a Movement is often defined by clear stages.

1. The Grand Vision

A dominant personality or leaders present an innovative concept offering a solution for struggling players.

Thus we find ourselves. Preparations are underway to confront the system overseas. Pressure is mounting. Smoke is rising from the sidelines. An isolated player, vulnerable, shivering, the words HIGH RELEASE POINT smeared across his chest in chicken blood, has stumbled into view and is taken aside with discretion to a different team in county cricket.

Do you recall the early days, when everything was fresh? The days of Bazball 1.0, of Bazball without brains.

2. Initial Adoration

Movement founders offer a reboot, optimism ahead, love, success within a community who all believe in the big idea.

How did it feel at first? Players celebrating feeling good. Tattoos. Muscles. Focus. Peak performance vibes. Of course, The squad insist Bazball doesn’t actually exist, which is funny because if it doesn’t exist, what exactly did I just watch?

However, everyone understands the concept. It’s Harry Brook attempting a move so unconventional it defies description. It’s the excitement of the leader at his peak, an expression conveying: thoughtful warrior, strong features, natural look, genuinely raw you wouldn’t be surprised to look down and see him playing on the ground bare-chested holding a fish.

It’s the opener still being allowed addressing the media, appearing as a cheerful animal in a waistcoat, saying stuff like we’re challenging norms. Indeed, the atmosphere, initially, was uplifting.

3. Expansion Period

Building period. Unity enforced via memorization of key phrases. These principles may seem irrational to prove commitment.

Does anyone else feel? The criticism, the fury, the disappointment following the initial loss feels overblown, too much. England batted badly during the match, as is typical there. They were dominated while bowling for a couple of hours as the bowling and captaincy fell apart, manipulated by the opponent imitating their style effectively, adaptive to conditions, a performer excelling with aura.

And now we have this the pile-on, 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, defeated through sheer skill of the pace attack, the low-fi orthodoxies of the bowler, marking successes with a bashful smile similar to getting a pleasant gift. How will they respond?

4. The Backlash Phase

Problems arise from failures in the plan. However, faults are ignored. It starts to feed on hostility externally.

In truth, a few days before the next match, we are at a critical juncture in the journey of this movement. England could quite easily win in the next Test through aggressive play. Alternatively, defeat could come swiftly. Should they fail it seems we could be witnessing the decline.

Ahead of this, there are two things worth saying on the topic. Previously, during the initial excitement, of light and heat, I wrote an article suggesting Bazball was a cult. Criticism followed, which proved the point as it’s known the best way of proving that it’s not a closed group is if supporters respond with anger denying scrutiny of the philosophy.

Recent events lately is just as interesting. Opposition to the style has turned into a movement. We have a uniformly angry internet, disappointed commentators, images of frustrated followers overseas missing out on play, like a room full of people wanting fairness.

Meanwhile, we have the wider backdrop of the host’s complex ingrained annoyance towards the unconventional visitors, out there saying, your cherished traditions and have fostered and nurtured to distinguish yourselves from others, well, it’s all a bit of a gag after all.

This is the core issue. It’s all cults. Bazball was a cult since the sport itself is insular. Or rather, the team has long been exclusive, a circle, a garden party, an insular community with centuries of opaque and ritualistic cult history behind it. Historically, this was where entry is limited. It’s the imperial sport of England, the early image-makers. And surprisingly, Britain is itself a cult, a system of unknown levels, a place that literally still has a king.

The team have been sealed up in this environment for years. Attempting to break free, to create a less brutal environment, they are mirroring their own experience, forming a new circle, a limited community, but now with 15 cool guys and a mentor promoting authenticity if you fit the mold.

Stay present. Run towards the danger. But no matter how fast and far you run, you’re always basically in the same place.

Reflecting on this, it might be appropriate to have some sympathy for the movement, to recognize its positives, which are significant. What does it represent? Encouraging expression. Questioning traditions. Batting aggressively|Attacking with