When We Are Witnessing the Decline of the Cult of Attacking Play, Let’s Appreciate Its Impact.
The Evolution of a Movement is often marked by clear stages.
1. The Big Idea
A charismatic leader or leaders propose a revolutionary approach pledging a cure for alienated and vulnerable people.
And so it goes. They’re getting ready to storm the compound in Australia. Pressure is mounting. Conflict emerges from the out-houses. One individual, naked, nervous, the phrase ATTACKING MINDSET displayed prominently as a statement, has come staggering through the lines and is removed in secrecy to a different team elsewhere.
Do you recall the beginning, when optimism reigned? The era of early Bazball, of uninhibited aggression.
2. The Honeymoon Phase
Movement founders offer a reboot, hope for a future, support, salvation together who all believe in the method.
How did it feel at first? Players celebrating basking in glory. Body art. Strength. Focus. Confident masculinity. Of course, England’s players often say they don’t use the label, amusingly because if it doesn’t exist, what exactly did I just watch?
Yet it’s clear the concept. It’s the player attempting a move so depraved it defies description. It’s the excitement of the leader in ultimate mode, an expression conveying: pensive Nordic god, strong features, untamed style, truly contemporary you half-expect to glance over and find him positioned in the field shirtless embracing nature.
It’s the opener often seen speaking publicly, appearing as a happy little woodland creature formally attired, saying stuff like we’re challenging norms. And yes, the vibe, for a significant period, was uplifting.
3. Expansion Period
Growth phase. Cohesion maintained through repetition of key phrases. These ideas are often illogical as a loyalty check.
Am I alone? The criticism, the outrage, the feeling of letdown following the initial loss seems too strong, overdone. The batting collapsed in Perth, as history shows. They were savaged while bowling for a couple of hours as the bowling and captaincy fell apart, outplayed by the opponent playing aggressively but smarter, adjusting to the pitch, a man playing with a kind of light around him.
Currently, we see the pile-on, the frustration, the view of the sport as a disgrace. The opinion suggests that defeat must be total, they should be dismantled, to be purged, obliterated, defeated through sheer skill of the pace attack, the conventional tactics of the veteran, marking successes with a bashful smile similar to getting a pleasant gift. What will this do to them?
4. External Conflict
Problems arise from failures in the plan. But the cult cannot admit errors. It turns to hatred of the outside world.
The fact remains, half a week out from the second Test, we have now reached a delicious point of tension in the lifespan of this approach. They might succeed in the next Test in a blur of adrenal disruption. More likely, failure may follow. Should they fail it appears we may see the death cult phase.
Ahead of this, several aspects to note on the topic. More than two years ago, at the start, of optimism and energy, an piece was published suggesting Bazball was a cult. There was outrage, which was helpful because everyone knows the best way of proving that it’s not a closed group is if supporters respond with anger rejecting criticism of the beliefs.
Recent events recently is just as interesting. Criticism of the approach is now the trend. Online outrage is widespread, angry English pundits, shots of angry middle-aged travelling fans cheated out of three days of cricket, similar to timeshare owners seeking justice.
Meanwhile, there is the broader context of the opponent’s mixed deep-seated frustration at these weirdly passive-aggressive buccaneers, stating, hey, that thing you love and have fostered and nurtured as part of your identity culturally from us, it’s not serious ultimately.
Here lies the truth. All movements are similar. Bazball was a cult since the sport itself is insular. In fact, English cricket has always been a cult, a clique, an elite gathering, a closed world with a long history of tradition and mystery behind it. This has always been where influence is guarded. It’s the British pastime of England, the early image-makers. And notably, Britain is itself a cult, a series of esoteric hierarchies, a place that literally still has a king.
The players have been isolated in this system for years. Attempting to break free, to create a less brutal environment, they are simply replicating their own experience, creating another a bubble, a closed circle, but doing it this time with a new team and a coach who wants you to be yourself if you fit the mold.
Focus on the moment. Confront risks. Despite efforts, things stay similar.
Reflecting on this, now is the time to have some sympathy for the movement, to recognize its positives, that are numerous. What is Bazball? Encouraging expression. Challenging orthodoxies. Batting aggressively|Attacking with
