🔗 Share this article

The Evolution of a Cult tends to be marked by clear stages.

1. The Big Idea

A dominant personality or figureheads present a new and transcendent idea that promises a cure for disconnected individuals.

So here we are. They’re getting ready to challenge the establishment down in Brisbane. Tensions are rising. Conflict emerges from the out-houses. An isolated player, vulnerable, anxious, the phrase ATTACKING MINDSET written on his body as a statement, has stumbled through the lines and is taken aside with discretion towards an inconclusive loan stint elsewhere.

Remember the start, when everything was fresh? The initial phase, of pure instinct.

2. Love-Bombing

Movement founders guarantee a new start, optimism ahead, camaraderie, salvation together with shared faith in the big idea.

What did it represent back then? Just men on a balcony enjoying success. Tattoos. Strength. Jawlines. Confident masculinity. Admittedly, England’s players insist it’s not a real term, amusingly since it’s not recognized, what did we see?

But we know what it is. It’s the player playing a shot so unconventional it has to be pixelated. It’s the excitement of Ben Stokes in his final form, an expression conveying: pensive Nordic god, beard made of wood, hair woven from beaver hide, truly contemporary you half-expect to look down and find him positioned at mid-off stripped to the waist embracing nature.

It’s Ben Duckett still being allowed speaking publicly, out there looking like a happy little woodland creature smartly dressed, expressing thoughts like we’re challenging norms. Indeed, the energy, initially, was uplifting.

3. Expansion Period

Growth phase. Togetherness strengthened by rote learning of the cult’s slogans. These principles are often illogical as a loyalty check.

Does anyone else feel? The reaction, the outrage, the feeling of letdown after the first Ashes Test defeat appears excessive, overdone. The performance was poor during the match, as history shows. They were savaged in the field in a short span as the bowling and captaincy fell apart, carved around by the opponent batting like England but better, responsive to the situation, an athlete shining with aura.

Currently, we see the attacks, the rage, the perception of the team as a failure. The feeling seems to be that losing isn’t enough, they must be humbled, to be scoured, flame-throwered, overwhelmed by the vengeful purity of the pace attack, the low-fi orthodoxies of Scott Boland, out there celebrating his wickets humbly as if receiving a rewarding prize. What impact will this have?

4. The Backlash Phase

Problems arise due to setbacks. However, faults are ignored. It turns to hostility externally.

The fact remains, approaching the next match, we’ve entered a delicious point of tension in the lifespan of this movement. England could quite easily win in Brisbane with bold tactics. More likely, failure may follow. And if they do lose it feels like we could be witnessing the final stage.

Ahead of this, a couple of points to consider about this. Previously, during the initial excitement, of passion and hope, a column appeared labeling it a movement. People were very angry, which proved the point because everyone knows a method to show lack of cult status is if supporters react defensively denying scrutiny of its truths.

Recent events lately is just as interesting. Criticism of the approach has turned into a movement. Online outrage is widespread, critical analysts, pictures of upset followers overseas missing out on play, reminiscent of timeshare owners seeking justice.

On the other hand, there is the broader context of the host’s complex ingrained annoyance with the aggressive tourists, out there saying, the methods you value and have developed to distinguish yourselves from others, it’s just a joke in the end old boy.

This is the core issue. It’s all cults. The approach was a phenomenon since the sport itself is insular. In fact, English cricket has always been a cult, a clique, an elite gathering, a restricted environment with centuries of ceremonial past defining it. It has long been a place where power and access are hoarded. It’s the imperial sport of England, the pioneering brand. And notably, the nation has its own culture, a structure of hidden ranks, a royal family remains.

England’s cricketers have been enclosed in this system for years. Attempting to break free, to foster positivity, they are simply replicating their upbringing, creating another a bubble, a closed circle, however with a new team and a mentor who wants you to be yourself if you fit the mold.

Live where your feet are. Run towards the danger. But no matter how fast and far you run, things stay similar.

Reflecting on this, now is the time to show understanding for the movement, to acknowledge its merits, which are significant. What does it represent? Creating a sense of freedom. Defying norms. Batting aggressively|Attacking with