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The Life Cycle of a Cult can be marked by distinct phases.

1. The Big Idea

An inspiring figure or figureheads introduce an innovative concept that promises a solution for disconnected individuals.

And so it goes. Plans are in motion to challenge the establishment down in Brisbane. Pressure is mounting. Conflict emerges from within. An isolated player, exposed, anxious, the words HIGH RELEASE POINT displayed prominently in chicken blood, has stumbled through the lines and is taken aside in secrecy to a different team in county cricket.

Remember the beginning, when the world was still young? The initial phase, of pure instinct.

2. Love-Bombing

Team architects offer a new start, optimism ahead, support, success within a community with shared faith in the philosophy.

How did it feel back then? Players celebrating basking in glory. Body art. Muscles. Focus. Elite male wellness energy. Of course, The team will claim it’s not a real term, amusingly because if it doesn’t exist, what did we see?

But we know what it is. It’s the batsman playing a shot so outrageous it defies description. It’s the excitement of the captain at his peak, a look that says: focused titan, rugged appearance, untamed style, truly contemporary you half-expect to notice and notice he’s fielding at mid-off bare-chested and cradling a wild salmon.

It’s the opener often seen addressing the media, out there looking like a cheerful animal formally attired, saying stuff like we’re breaking down traditions. Indeed, the energy, initially, was entirely positive.

3. A New Life

Development stage. Cohesion maintained via memorization of the cult’s slogans. These beliefs may seem irrational as a test of “true belief”.

Is it just me? The criticism, the outrage, the sense of betrayal post-defeat appears excessive, unwarranted. The performance was poor on the field, as is typical there. They were savaged while bowling during a brief period when tactics failed, carved around by Travis Head batting like England but better, adjusting to the pitch, an athlete shining with aura.

Currently, we see the pile-on, the rage, the view of the sport as a failure. The feeling seems to be that defeat must be total, they should be dismantled, to be cleansed, obliterated, defeated through sheer skill of Mitchell Starc’s movements, the conventional tactics of the veteran, seen enjoying successes humbly like he’s just been given a nice new fishing rod. What impact will this have?

4. Hate Bonding

Problems arise from failures in the plan. Yet, mistakes are denied. It starts to feed on hatred of the outside world.

Ultimately, a few days before the upcoming game, we have now reached an intriguing moment in the journey of this thing. Victory is possible in the next Test in a blur of adrenal disruption. Probably, they could lose just as quickly. And if they do lose it seems we may see the decline.

Prior to that, a couple of points to note regarding this. Previously, during the initial excitement, of passion and hope, a column appeared labeling it a movement. People were very angry, which demonstrated as it’s known the best way of proving lack of cult status is if supporters send hundreds of furiously one-eyed messages denying scrutiny of the beliefs.

The developments in the last few days is just as interesting. Opposition to the style has now become the cult. Social media is furious, disappointed commentators, shots of angry middle-aged travelling fans missing out on play, similar to investors demanding recourse.

Conversely, there is the broader context of Australia’s more nuanced ingrained annoyance towards the unconventional visitors, out there saying, hey, that thing you love and have developed as one way of separating yourself culturally from us, it’s not serious ultimately.

Here lies the truth. It’s all cults. The approach was a phenomenon because cricket is a cult. Or at least, English cricket has always been a cult, a circle, a garden party, a closed world with two hundred years of tradition and mystery defining it. This has always been where entry is limited. It’s the British pastime of the nation, the original sports washers. And notably, Britain is itself a cult, a series of esoteric hierarchies, a place that literally still has a king.

The players have been sealed up within this world for years. Attempting to break free, to build a better atmosphere, they are mirroring their upbringing, forming a new circle, a closed circle, but doing it this time with 15 cool guys and a leader who wants you to be yourself provided you conform.

Stay present. Confront risks. Despite efforts, you’re always basically in the same place.

With this mind, it might be appropriate to show understanding for Bazball, to appreciate its good points, which are significant. How to define it? Promoting liberation. Questioning traditions. Batting aggressively|Attacking with