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The Journey of a Phenomenon tends to be defined by distinct phases.

1. The Big Idea

An inspiring figure or coaches introduce an innovative concept offering a panacea for disconnected individuals.

So here we are. Preparations are underway to challenge the establishment overseas. The gunships are circling. Signs of trouble appear from within. A lone figure, exposed, nervous, the slogan POSITIVE INTENT smeared across his chest as a statement, has stumbled through the lines and is removed with discretion towards an inconclusive loan stint elsewhere.

Remember the early days, when optimism reigned? The days of Bazball 1.0, of uninhibited aggression.

2. The Honeymoon Phase

Team architects offer a new start, hope for a future, love, salvation among a group who all believe in the big idea.

What did it represent initially? Players celebrating feeling good. Body art. Forearms. Jawlines. Peak performance vibes. Of course, The team will claim they don’t use the label, amusingly because if it doesn’t exist, what exactly did I just watch?

However, everyone understands its essence. It’s the player playing a shot so unconventional it’s beyond belief. It’s the thrill of the leader at his peak, an expression conveying: thoughtful warrior, rugged appearance, untamed style, truly contemporary you almost imagine to notice and find him positioned at mid-off stripped to the waist holding a fish.

It’s the batsman often seen to talk in press conferences, out there looking like a cheerful animal smartly dressed, expressing thoughts like we are actively deconstructing the orange. And yes, the vibe, for quite a long time, was entirely positive.

3. The Growth Phase

Growth phase. Unity enforced through repetition of mantras. These ideas can appear contradictory as a loyalty check.

Am I alone? The criticism, the outrage, the disappointment following the initial loss seems too strong, too much. The performance was poor on the field, as history shows. They were torn apart while bowling for a couple of hours when tactics failed, carved around by the batsman batting like England but better, responsive to the situation, a performer excelling with brilliance.

Now there is the pile-on, the anger, the perception of the team as a kind of abomination. The feeling seems to be that defeat must be total, they must be humbled, to be scoured, destroyed, destroyed by the vengeful purity of the pace attack, the conventional tactics of the bowler, out there celebrating successes with a bashful smile similar to getting a nice new fishing rod. What will this do to them?

4. Hate Bonding

Challenges surface from failures in the plan. However, faults are ignored. It starts to feed on anger towards critics.

Ultimately, a few days before the next match, we are at a critical juncture in the journey of this thing. England could quite easily win in Brisbane in a blur of adrenal disruption. Alternatively, they could lose just as quickly. And if they do lose it seems we could be witnessing the decline.

Ahead of this, a couple of points worth saying on the topic. Previously, at the start, of optimism and energy, I wrote an article suggesting Bazball was a cult. Criticism followed, which was helpful because everyone knows a method to show something definitely isn’t a cult is when its acolytes react defensively rejecting criticism of the philosophy.

Recent events recently is just as interesting. Criticism of the approach has turned into a movement. We have a uniformly angry internet, angry English pundits, shots of angry middle-aged supporters abroad cheated out of three days of cricket, similar to people wanting fairness.

Conversely, we have the wider backdrop of the host’s complex more culturally hard-wired exasperation with the aggressive tourists, stating, your cherished traditions and have developed to distinguish yourselves from others, it’s just a joke after all.

And this is the real point. All movements are similar. Bazball was a cult since the sport itself is insular. Or rather, English cricket has always been a cult, a group, a garden party, a restricted environment with two hundred years of tradition and mystery supporting it. Historically, this was a place where power and access are hoarded. It’s the imperial sport of the British, the original sports washers. And notably, the country is a phenomenon, a series of esoteric hierarchies, a place that literally still has a king.

The team have been enclosed in this environment for years. Attempting to break free, to create a less brutal environment, they are simply replicating their upbringing, forming a new circle, an exclusive group, but doing it this time with a modern squad and a mentor promoting authenticity if you fit the mold.

Live where your feet are. Confront risks. However much you change, you remain stuck.

With this mind, it is perhaps the moment to have some sympathy for the approach, to recognize its positives, of which there are many. What does it represent? Creating a sense of freedom. Questioning traditions. Batting aggressively|Attacking with