🔗 Share this article

The Life Cycle of a Phenomenon is often marked by clear stages.

1. The Core Concept

A charismatic leader or leaders introduce a new and transcendent idea offering a solution for alienated and vulnerable people.

And so it goes. Preparations are underway to confront the system in Australia. Tensions are rising. Signs of trouble appear from the sidelines. One individual, exposed, nervous, the slogan POSITIVE INTENT displayed prominently as a symbol, has stumbled through the lines and is removed in secrecy towards an inconclusive loan stint elsewhere.

Remember the start, when everything was fresh? The days of Bazball 1.0, of uninhibited aggression.

2. Love-Bombing

Movement founders promise a reboot, hope for a future, camaraderie, success among a group united in belief in the philosophy.

What did it represent at first? Players celebrating basking in glory. Tattoos. Muscles. Jawlines. Peak performance vibes. Oh sure, The team often say Bazball doesn’t actually exist, ironically as it’s denied, what did we see?

Yet it’s clear its essence. It’s the batsman attempting a move so depraved it has to be pixelated. It’s the excitement of the leader at his peak, a demeanor suggesting: thoughtful warrior, beard made of wood, hair woven from beaver hide, genuinely raw you wouldn’t be surprised to look down and find him positioned in the field bare-chested and cradling a wild salmon.

It’s Ben Duckett still being allowed to talk in press conferences, out there looking like a happy little woodland creature smartly dressed, expressing thoughts like we are actively deconstructing the orange. And yes, the atmosphere, initially, was entirely positive.

3. A New Life

Growth phase. Cohesion maintained through repetition of mantras. These ideas may seem irrational as a test of “true belief”.

Is it just me? The criticism, the outrage, the feeling of letdown following the initial loss appears excessive, too much. The performance was poor in Perth, as is typical there. They were dominated while bowling during a brief period as the bowling and captaincy fell apart, carved around by Travis Head batting like England but better, adaptive to conditions, an athlete shining with aura.

Currently, we see the criticism, the anger, the view of the sport as a kind of abomination. The consensus is that losing isn’t enough, they must be humbled, to be scoured, flame-throwered, defeated by the vengeful purity of Mitchell Starc’s movements, the simple basics of the bowler, seen enjoying achievements with a bashful smile like he’s just been given a pleasant gift. How will they respond?

4. External Conflict

Problems arise because of mistakes. However, faults are ignored. It turns to hatred of the outside world.

In truth, approaching the upcoming game, we’ve entered a critical juncture in the lifespan of this thing. Victory is possible overseas through aggressive play. More likely, defeat could come swiftly. In case of defeat it seems we may see the death cult phase.

Ahead of this, several aspects to consider on the topic. Previously, at the start, of light and heat, a column appeared calling it a phenomenon. There was outrage, which was helpful because everyone knows the best way of proving something definitely isn’t a cult is if supporters react defensively rejecting criticism of its truths.

The developments recently are fascinating. Criticism of the approach is now the trend. We have a uniformly angry internet, angry English pundits, images of frustrated travelling fans missing out on play, similar to timeshare owners seeking justice.

Meanwhile, we have the wider backdrop of Australia’s more nuanced more culturally hard-wired exasperation towards the unconventional visitors, stating, your cherished traditions and have honed as part of your identity from the opposition, it’s not serious ultimately.

Here lies the truth. It’s all cults. Bazball was a cult as the game has its own culture. Or rather, English cricket has always been a cult, a group, a garden party, a restricted environment with a long history of opaque and ritualistic cult history behind it. It has long been where entry is limited. It’s the imperial sport of the nation, the early image-makers. And notably, the country is a phenomenon, a system of unknown levels, a monarchy still exists.

The team have been sealed up in this environment since childhood. Seeking change, to build a better atmosphere, they are just repeating their upbringing, building another enclosure, a closed circle, but doing it this time with 15 cool guys and a mentor encouraging individuality provided you conform.

Live where your feet are. Embrace challenges. Despite efforts, you remain stuck.

With this mind, now is the time to show understanding for Bazball, to appreciate its good points, that are numerous. What does it represent? Encouraging expression. Challenging orthodoxies. Batting aggressively|Attacking with