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Brendon McCullum despised the label Bazball from its inception, viewing it as reductive and perhaps anticipating how it might be weaponised in the future. Right now, down 2-0 in an away Ashes series that began with high hopes, it has become the butt of Australian jokes.

But the coach has contributed to the problem either. After the gut-wrenching defeat at the Gabba, his insistence that, if anything, England were 'too prepared' before the pink-ball match was akin to trying to put out a rubbish fire with petrol. It risks becoming his epitaph as national coach if results do not take an upturn.

In a way, one must admire his dedication to the philosophy. As much as he says he block out external noise, he must have been acutely aware of an England team often described as carefree and underprepared.

The reality, as always, is not so simple. England play as much golf during their necessary down time as their rivals and they train just as much. Prior to the Gabba Test, they did more, logging five days to Australia's three, given their limited experience to the pink ball and the different seeing conditions.

The Debate of Preparation and Practice

McCullum's point about being "excessively ready" was that those five extra days were his call – the instance he wavered in his conviction that less is more. It meant a Test match's worth of focus was used up before they even took the field in the intensity of Australia's fortress. And though nets are a chance to iron out technique, they can also become a comfort zone; zero consequence activity that simply keeps the reactions quick.

Schedules are tight such that pre-series state games were unavailable (with no guarantee, as shown by England playing three before the 5-0 series loss in 2013-14). What is harder to square is the disregard of county championship cricket as a valuable experience in general, evidenced by Jacob Bethell's wasted summer.

Match Shortcomings and Strategic Lack of Evolution

Only playing prepares cricketers for the many situations they encounter, and it is in this area where England have thus far been found lacking. The issue is not just with the bat – as poor as some of the decision-making has been – but an attack that seems leaderless. None has demonstrated the patience or discipline that the otherworldly Australian paceman and his teammates have delivered.

The coach's free-spirit outlook was freeing during its first 12 months, an effective, apt solution to eradicate the lethargy that preceded it. The frustration now stems from how it has seemingly not evolved past that initial phase – the lack of an upgrade to the initial philosophy that has seen form decline to 14 wins and 14 losses from their most recent matches.

Squad Spotlight and Selection Decisions

Among them is the wicketkeeper-batter, a gifted player, undoubtedly, but one who is being constantly tested on both edges and has dropped two crucial opportunities with the gloves. The situation is not aided when your opposite number, the Australian keeper, has just produced a masterful display.

Based on McCullum's words in the aftermath, England look likely to keep the faith with Smith in Adelaide. The hope – similar to the broader situation – is that a switch to a more familiar Test setting triggers his best, with Perth's bouncy pitch and the unfamiliar day-night format now in the past.

Another option is to implement the plan stumbled across during the series win in New Zealand last year by shifting the batsman down to his more natural home as a active No. 5 or 6, giving him the gloves, and picking a fresh face at first drop. Bethell scored runs for the Lions over the weekend, or maybe an all-rounder could perform a comparable function to the former spinner in 2023.

Ultimately, these changes is perfect, with Australia's better fundamentals having destroyed expectations and pushed the team's entire approach into the harsh glare of scrutiny.