🔗 Share this article

The Evolution of a Cult is often defined by distinct phases.

1. The Core Concept

An inspiring figure or figureheads present a revolutionary approach pledging a solution for alienated and vulnerable people.

And so it goes. They’re getting ready to storm the compound down in Brisbane. The gunships are circling. Signs of trouble appear from the out-houses. One individual, vulnerable, anxious, the phrase ATTACKING MINDSET smeared across his chest as a statement, has stumbled from the field and is taken aside with discretion towards an inconclusive loan stint in county cricket.

Do you recall the start, when everything was fresh? The initial phase, of pure instinct.

2. The Honeymoon Phase

Movement founders promise a fresh beginning, hope for a future, love, redemption among a group who all believe in the big idea.

What did it represent back then? A team united enjoying success. Tattoos. Forearms. Jawlines. Confident masculinity. Of course, The squad insist it’s not a real term, which is funny because if it doesn’t exist, what exactly did I just watch?

However, everyone understands the concept. It’s the player attempting a move so outrageous it’s beyond belief. It’s the adrenaline of Ben Stokes in ultimate mode, a demeanor suggesting: pensive Nordic god, beard made of wood, untamed style, truly contemporary you almost imagine to look down and see him playing at mid-off bare-chested embracing nature.

It’s Ben Duckett often seen addressing the media, out there looking like a cheerful animal smartly dressed, saying stuff like we’re breaking down traditions. And yes, the energy, for a significant period, was only good energy.

3. The Growth Phase

Building period. Cohesion maintained via memorization of key phrases. These beliefs are often illogical as a loyalty check.

Am I alone? The backlash, the anger, the disappointment post-defeat feels overblown, overdone. The performance was poor in Perth, as is typical there. They were torn apart in the field in a short span as plans unraveled, carved around by the opponent playing aggressively but smarter, adjusting to the pitch, a man playing with aura.

Now there is the pile-on, the frustration, the sense of English Test cricket as a failure. The consensus is that losing isn’t enough, they need to lose righteously, to be scoured, obliterated, defeated through sheer skill of the pace attack, the low-fi orthodoxies of the bowler, out there celebrating achievements humbly as if receiving a nice new fishing rod. What will this do to them?

4. External Conflict

Problems arise from failures in the plan. Yet, mistakes are denied. It begins to thrive on hostility externally.

Ultimately, approaching from the second Test, we have now reached a critical juncture in the lifespan of this thing. England could quite easily win overseas with bold tactics. Alternatively, failure may follow. Should they fail it seems we could be witnessing the final stage.

Before that happens, a couple of points to consider about this. More than two years ago, back in those heady early days, of light and heat, I wrote an article calling it a phenomenon. People were very angry, which demonstrated because everyone knows a method to show something definitely isn’t a cult is should followers respond with anger denying scrutiny of the beliefs.

What has happened in the last few days is just as interesting. Opposition to the style has turned into a movement. Online outrage is widespread, angry English pundits, images of frustrated travelling fans disappointed by the short match, reminiscent of timeshare owners seeking justice.

Conversely, there is the broader context of the opponent’s mixed ingrained annoyance at these weirdly passive-aggressive buccaneers, stating, the methods you value and have fostered and nurtured as one way of separating yourself culturally from us, well, it’s all a bit of a gag in the end old boy.

This is the core issue. Everything is a cult. The style was a trend since the sport itself is insular. In fact, English cricket has always been a cult, a clique, a private event, a restricted environment with two hundred years of tradition and mystery defining it. Historically, this was a place where power and access are hoarded. It’s the British pastime of the nation, the pioneering brand. And guess what, Britain is itself a cult, a system of unknown levels, a monarchy still exists.

The team have been enclosed within this world for years. In trying to escape from it, to build a better atmosphere, they are mirroring their own experience, creating another a bubble, a limited community, however with a modern squad and a mentor encouraging individuality as long as yourself is quite a lot like myself.

Live where your feet are. Embrace challenges. Despite efforts, things stay similar.

Reflecting on this, it might be appropriate to have some sympathy for the movement, to acknowledge its merits, that are numerous. What does it represent? Promoting liberation. Questioning traditions. Batting aggressively|Attacking with