Should We See the Decline of the Craze of Attacking Play, Let’s Savour Its Legacy.
The Journey of a Cult is often defined by distinct phases.
1. The Core Concept
A charismatic leader or leaders introduce a new and transcendent idea offering a cure for alienated and vulnerable people.
So here we are. They’re getting ready to challenge the establishment down in Brisbane. The gunships are circling. Conflict emerges from within. An isolated player, exposed, shivering, the slogan POSITIVE INTENT written on his body as a symbol, has come staggering from the field and is removed under a blanket to a different team elsewhere.
Remember the early days, when optimism reigned? The initial phase, of Bazball without brains.
2. The Honeymoon Phase
Cult leaders guarantee a fresh beginning, hope for a future, love, salvation among a group united in belief in the method.
How did it feel initially? Just men on a balcony feeling good. Body art. Strength. Determination. Peak performance vibes. Oh sure, England’s players insist they don’t use the label, which is funny because if it doesn’t exist, what was that spectacle?
Yet it’s clear its essence. It’s the batsman attempting a move so unconventional it’s beyond belief. It’s the thrill of Ben Stokes at his peak, a demeanor suggesting: thoughtful warrior, strong features, hair woven from beaver hide, truly contemporary you wouldn’t be surprised to glance over and notice he’s fielding on the ground stripped to the waist holding a fish.
It’s the batsman often seen to talk in press conferences, resembling a joyful figure smartly dressed, saying stuff like we’re challenging norms. And yes, the energy, for a significant period, was entirely positive.
3. The Growth Phase
Growth phase. Unity enforced by rote learning of mantras. These principles can appear contradictory to prove commitment.
Am I alone? The reaction, the fury, the sense of betrayal post-defeat feels overblown, unwarranted. England batted badly on the field, as they often do in Australia. They were savaged defensively during a brief period as plans unraveled, carved around by the batsman imitating their style effectively, adjusting to the pitch, a performer excelling with aura.
And now we have this the pile-on, the anger, the perception of the team as a failure. The opinion suggests that England don’t just need to lose, they need to lose righteously, to be purged, destroyed, destroyed through sheer skill of the bowler’s action, the low-fi orthodoxies of Scott Boland, seen enjoying his wickets modestly as if receiving a nice new fishing rod. What will this do to them?
4. Hate Bonding
Challenges surface because of mistakes. Yet, mistakes are denied. It starts to feed on anger towards critics.
The fact remains, half a week out the upcoming game, we’ve entered an intriguing moment in the story of this movement. Victory is possible overseas with bold tactics. More likely, failure may follow. And if they do lose it feels like we could be witnessing the decline.
Ahead of this, several aspects to consider regarding this. In the past, back in those heady early days, of light and heat, I wrote an article 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 if supporters respond with anger denying scrutiny of the beliefs.
The developments recently are fascinating. Opposition to the style is now the trend. Online outrage is widespread, angry English pundits, images of frustrated supporters abroad cheated out of three days of cricket, similar to investors demanding recourse.
On the other hand, we have the wider backdrop of the host’s complex ingrained annoyance at these weirdly passive-aggressive buccaneers, stating, your cherished traditions and have developed as part of your identity from others, well, it’s all a bit of a gag ultimately.
And this is the real point. All movements are similar. Bazball was a cult because cricket is a cult. In fact, the team has long been exclusive, a clique, a garden party, a closed world with a long history of opaque and ritualistic cult history behind it. This has always been where influence is guarded. It’s the imperial sport of England, the original sports washers. And guess what, the country is a phenomenon, a structure of hidden ranks, a monarchy still exists.
The team have been sealed up in this environment since childhood. In trying to escape from it, to foster positivity, they are simply replicating their upbringing, creating another a bubble, an exclusive group, but doing it this time with a modern squad and a mentor encouraging individuality if you fit the mold.
Stay present. Embrace challenges. Despite efforts, you’re always basically in the same place.
Reflecting on this, now is the time to offer compassion for the approach, to appreciate its good points, which are significant. How to define it? Promoting liberation. Defying norms. Batting aggressively|Attacking with
