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The England head coach loathed the term Bazball since it was coined, viewing it as overly simplistic and maybe anticipating how it might be weaponised in the future. Right now, trailing 2-0 in an Test series in Australia that began with high hopes, it has turned into the subject of Australian jokes.

However the coach has not helped himself either. After the crushing loss at the Gabba, his claim that, if anything, England were 'over-prepared' prior to the day-night Test was akin to attempting to extinguish a bin fire with petrol. It could become his epitaph as England head coach if results do not improve.

On one level, you almost have to admire his dedication to the philosophy. While McCullum says he block out outside criticism, he will have been all too aware of an England team increasingly characterised as freewheeling and lacking preparation.

The truth, as ever, is not so simple. England play as much golf during their necessary down time as their opponents and they train just as much. Prior to the Gabba Test, they did more, logging five days to Australia's three, given their lack of exposure to the pink ball and the changes in lighting conditions.

The Question of Readiness and Practice

McCullum's point about being "excessively ready" was that those additional training days were his call – the moment he wavered in his conviction that minimal preparation is best. It suggested a Test match's worth of mental energy was used up before they even stepped out in the intensity of Australia's stronghold. And though nets are a chance to refine technique, they can also become a comfort zone; zero consequence work that simply keeps the reactions quick.

Schedules are tight such that warm-up matches against state sides were not possible (and no guarantee, when you consider England having played three before the whitewash in 2013-14). More difficult to justify is the disregard of domestic red-ball cricket as a worthwhile exercise more broadly, evidenced by Jacob Bethell's unproductive season.

Match Shortcomings and Philosophical Stagnation

Only playing hardens cricketers for the various scenarios they encounter, and it is in this area where England have so far been found lacking. It is not only with the bat – harrowing as some of the shot selection has been – but an attack that seems without a spearhead. No bowler has shown the persistence or discipline that the exceptional Australian paceman and his teammates have delivered.

The coach's free-spirit outlook was freeing during its initial year, an effective, well diagnosed solution to shake off the lethargy that preceded it. The frustration now comes in how it has seemingly not evolved past that point – the lack of an second phase to the initial philosophy that has seen results decline to an even record from their most recent matches.

Player Spotlight and Team Decisions

One such player is the wicketkeeper-batter, a gifted player, no question, but one who is being mercilessly targeted on both edges and missed two key chances with the gloves. It probably does not help when your counterpart, Alex Carey, has just produced a virtuoso performance.

Based on the coach's words in the aftermath, England look likely to persist with Smith in Adelaide. The expectation – similar to the broader situation – is that a return to a traditional match environment unleashes his top form, with Perth's trampoline surface and the unusual floodlit Test now out of the way.

Another option is to enact the plan discovered during the victorious series in New Zealand 12 months ago by shifting Ollie Pope down to his preferred position as a active No. 5 or 6, handing him the gloves, and picking a new No 3. A young contender made some runs for the Lions recently, or perhaps Will Jacks could perform a similar role to the former spinner in 2023.

In the end, these changes is ideal, however Australia's superior basics having shattered pre-series optimism and pushed the team's entire approach into the spotlight.