I was wrong to say Bazball is a cult. It’s actually a death cult

‘Bazball’s vibe was key. The vibe was sitting on a balcony, sun rippling across interesting sunglasses, sculpted beard, artisan coffee …’ Illustration: Matt Johnstone

Two summers ago, with interest in the England Test team’s seductive new energy reaching an early peak, I wrote an article suggesting that Bazball was a cult.

There were some parts of the clinical definition of a cult that seemed analogous. A sense of mission. Charismatic, dominant individuals in charge. Presents itself as innovative and elitist. Aggressively hostile towards any kind of outside questioning.