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The England head coach loathed the moniker Bazball from its inception, viewing it as overly simplistic and perhaps foreseeing how it could be used as a weapon down the line. Right now, down 2-0 in an Test series in Australia that began with high hopes, it has turned into the subject of mockery from Australia.

But the coach has not helped himself either. Following the crushing defeat at the Gabba, his claim that, if there was an issue, England were 'too prepared' before 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.

On one level, you almost have to admire his commitment to the bit. While McCullum says he block out outside criticism, he will have been all too aware of an England team often described as carefree and lacking preparation.

The truth, as always, is not so simple. England play as much golf during their scheduled breaks as their opponents and they train just as much. Prior to the Gabba Test, they trained for longer, logging five days to Australia's three, given their limited experience to the pink Kookaburra ball and the changes in seeing conditions.

The Debate of Preparation 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 less is more. It suggested a significant amount of focus was used up before they even took the field in the cauldron of Australia's fortress. While nets are a chance to iron out technique, they can also become a comfort zone; zero consequence activity that mainly maintains the reflexes sharp.

Fixtures are congested such that warm-up matches against state sides were unavailable (with uncertain value, as shown by England playing three before the 5-0 series loss in 2013-14). What is harder to square is the dismissal of county championship cricket as a worthwhile exercise more broadly, as shown by Jacob Bethell's wasted summer.

On-Field Deficiencies and Philosophical Lack of Evolution

Only playing hardens cricketers for the various scenarios 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 shot selection has been – but an bowling attack that seems without a spearhead. No bowler has shown the patience or discipline that the otherworldly Australian paceman and his support cast have delivered.

McCullum's free-spirit approach was liberating during its initial year, an effective, apt solution to eradicate the torpor that preceded it. The disappointment now stems from how it has apparently failed to move beyond that point – the lack of an upgrade to the initial philosophy that has seen results taper off to an even record from their most recent matches.

Player Spotlight and Team Decisions

One such player is the wicketkeeper-batter, a gifted player, undoubtedly, but one who is being mercilessly targeted on each side of the bat and missed two key chances with the gloves. The situation is not aided when your counterpart, Alex Carey, has just delivered a masterful display.

Based on McCullum's words in the aftermath, England look likely to keep the faith with Smith in Adelaide. The expectation – as is the case – is that a return to a more familiar Test setting triggers his best, with Perth's trampoline surface and the unfamiliar day-night format now out of the way.

The alternative is to enact the plan discovered during the series win in New Zealand last year by shifting Ollie Pope down to his more natural home as a active No. 5 or 6, handing him the wicketkeeping duties, and selecting a new No 3. Bethell scored runs for the Lions recently, or perhaps Will Jacks could fulfil a similar role to Moeen Ali in 2023.

Ultimately, these changes is ideal, with Australia's superior basics having destroyed pre-series optimism and pushed the broader philosophy into the spotlight.