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Brendon McCullum despised the moniker Bazball the moment it emerged, viewing it as overly simplistic and perhaps anticipating how it could be used as a weapon in the future. Right now, down 2-0 in an away Ashes series that started with great expectations, it has turned into the subject of Australian jokes.

But McCullum has not helped himself either. Following the crushing loss at the Gabba, his insistence that, if anything, England were 'too prepared' prior to the day-night Test was like trying to put out a bin fire with petrol. It could become his lasting legacy as national coach if performances do not improve.

In a way, one must admire his dedication to the philosophy. While McCullum claims to block out external noise, he will have been acutely aware of an England team increasingly characterised as freewheeling and underprepared.

The truth, as ever, is more nuanced. England enjoy golf just as much during their necessary down time as their rivals and they train just as much. Before the Gabba Test, they did more, logging five days compared to Australia's three, due to their lack of exposure to the pink Kookaburra ball and the different seeing conditions.

The Question of Preparation and Practice

McCullum's point about being "over-prepared" was that those additional training days were his decision – the instance he wavered in his conviction that minimal preparation is best. It meant a significant amount of mental energy was used up before they even stepped out in the cauldron of Australia's stronghold. While nets are a opportunity to iron out skills, they can also become a comfort zone; zero consequence work that mainly keeps the reactions quick.

Schedules are tight such that pre-series state games were not possible (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 dismissal of domestic red-ball cricket as a worthwhile exercise in general, as shown by a young player's unproductive season.

On-Field Deficiencies and Philosophical Stagnation

Match practice alone hardens cricketers for the many situations they walk out to face, and it is in this area where England have so far fallen well short. The issue is not just with the batting – as poor as some of the decision-making has been – but an bowling attack that seems without a spearhead. No bowler has demonstrated the patience or discipline that the exceptional Mitchell Starc and his support cast have delivered.

McCullum's unconventional approach was freeing during its first 12 months, an excellent, well diagnosed remedy to eradicate the lethargy that preceded it. The disappointment now comes in how it has apparently failed to move beyond that initial phase – an absence of an upgrade to the initial philosophy that has seen results decline to 14 wins and 14 losses from their last 30 Tests.

Squad Spotlight and Selection Decisions

One such player is the wicketkeeper-batter, a talent, undoubtedly, but one who is being constantly tested on each side of the bat and missed two key chances as wicketkeeper. It probably does not help when your opposite number, the Australian keeper, has just delivered a virtuoso performance.

Based on McCullum's words in the aftermath, England look likely to keep the faith with Smith in Adelaide. The expectation – similar to the broader situation – is that a return to a more familiar Test setting triggers his best, with Perth's bouncy pitch and the unfamiliar floodlit Test now out of the way.

The alternative is to implement the plan stumbled across during the series win in New Zealand 12 months ago by shifting the batsman down to his preferred position as a active No. 5 or 6, handing him the gloves, and picking 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 Moeen Ali in 2023.

In the end, these changes is ideal, with Australia's superior basics having shattered pre-series optimism and forced the broader philosophy into the harsh glare of scrutiny.