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The England head coach despised the moniker Bazball from its inception, deeming it overly simplistic and perhaps foreseeing how it could be used as a weapon down the line. Right now, trailing 2-0 in an away Ashes series that began with great expectations, it has turned into the subject of Australian jokes.

But the coach has contributed to the problem either. After the crushing defeat at the Gabba, his insistence that, if there was an issue, England were 'too prepared' prior to the pink-ball match was like attempting to extinguish a bin fire with gasoline. It could become his lasting legacy as England head coach if results do not improve.

In a way, you almost have to admire his dedication to the philosophy. As much as McCullum says he block out outside criticism, he must have been all too aware of an England team increasingly characterised as carefree and underprepared.

The truth, as ever, is more nuanced. England enjoy golf just as much during their necessary down time as their opponents and they train just as much. Before the Gabba Test, they did more, completing five days to Australia's three, given their limited experience to the pink Kookaburra ball and the changes in lighting conditions.

The Question of Readiness and Training

The coach's point about being "excessively ready" was that those additional training days were his decision – the instance he wavered in his belief that minimal preparation is best. It suggested a significant amount of focus was used up before they even stepped out in the intensity of Australia's stronghold. While net practice are a chance to iron out skills, they can also become a safety blanket; zero consequence activity that simply keeps the reactions quick.

Fixtures are tight such that warm-up matches against state sides were unavailable (with uncertain value, as shown by England having played three before the 5-0 series loss in 2013-14). What is harder to square is the disregard of domestic red-ball cricket as a worthwhile exercise in general, evidenced by a young player's wasted summer.

On-Field Shortcomings and Strategic Stagnation

Match practice alone prepares cricketers for the various scenarios they walk out to face, and it is in this area where England have thus far fallen well short. It is not only with the bat – as poor as some of the shot selection has been – but an attack that seems leaderless. None has demonstrated the persistence or discipline that the otherworldly Australian paceman and his teammates have delivered.

McCullum's free-spirit outlook was freeing during its initial year, an effective, well diagnosed remedy to eradicate the lethargy that came before. The frustration now comes in how it has apparently not evolved past that initial phase – the lack of an second phase to the original software that has seen results decline to 14 wins and 14 losses from their most recent matches.

Squad Focus and Team Decisions

One such player is the wicketkeeper-batter, a talent, undoubtedly, but one who is being mercilessly targeted on each side of the bat and missed two crucial opportunities as wicketkeeper. The situation is not aided when your opposite number, Alex Carey, has just produced a virtuoso performance.

Going by the coach's words after the match, England look likely to persist with Smith in Adelaide. The expectation – as is the case – is that a return to a more familiar Test setting unleashes his top form, with Perth's bouncy pitch and the unusual day-night format now out of the way.

Another option is to implement the plan stumbled across during the victorious series in New Zealand last year by shifting the batsman down to his preferred position as a busy middle order player, handing him the gloves, and selecting a fresh face at first drop. Bethell made some runs for the Lions recently, or perhaps an all-rounder could fulfil a comparable function to the former spinner in 2023.

Ultimately, none of this is perfect, with Australia's superior basics having destroyed pre-series optimism and pushed the broader philosophy into the spotlight.