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Brendon McCullum detested the moniker Bazball from its inception, viewing it as overly simplistic and perhaps anticipating how it might be weaponised in the future. Right now, trailing 2-0 in an away Ashes series that started with great expectations, it has turned into the subject of mockery from Australia.

But McCullum has contributed to the problem either. Following the gut-wrenching loss at the Gabba, his claim that, if anything, England were 'too prepared' before the day-night Test was akin to attempting to extinguish a bin fire with petrol. It could become his epitaph as national coach if results do not improve.

On one level, one must admire his dedication to the philosophy. As much as McCullum claims to ignore external noise, he will have been acutely aware of an England team increasingly characterised as freewheeling and lacking preparation.

The reality, 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, completing five days compared to Australia's three, given their lack of exposure to the pink ball and the different seeing conditions.

The Question of Preparation and Practice

McCullum's point about being "over-prepared" was that those five extra days were his call – the instance he blinked in his belief that less is more. It suggested a Test match's worth of focus was expended before they even took the field in the cauldron of Australia's stronghold. While nets are a opportunity to refine skills, they can also become a comfort zone; low-pressure activity that mainly keeps the reactions quick.

Fixtures are congested such that pre-series state games were not possible (with uncertain value, as shown by England playing three before the whitewash in 2013-14). More difficult to justify is the dismissal of domestic red-ball cricket as a valuable experience in general, evidenced by Jacob Bethell's unproductive season.

On-Field Deficiencies and Strategic Lack of Evolution

Match practice alone hardens cricketers for the many situations they walk out to face, and it is here where England have thus far fallen well short. It is not only with the bat – harrowing as some of the shot selection has been – but an bowling attack that seems without a spearhead. None has shown the patience or control that the otherworldly Australian paceman and his teammates have delivered.

McCullum's free-spirit outlook was liberating during its first 12 months, an effective, well diagnosed remedy to eradicate the torpor that came before. The disappointment now stems from 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 last 30 Tests.

Squad Spotlight and Selection Decisions

One such player is Jamie Smith, a gifted player, undoubtedly, but one who is being mercilessly targeted on both edges and missed two crucial opportunities as wicketkeeper. It probably does not help when your counterpart, Alex Carey, has just produced a virtuoso display.

Going by the coach's words in the aftermath, England appear set to keep the faith with Smith in Adelaide. The expectation – similar to the broader situation – is that a return to a more familiar match environment unleashes his best, with Perth's trampoline surface and the unfamiliar day-night format 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 busy middle order player, handing him the gloves, and picking a new No 3. A young contender scored runs for the Lions over the weekend, or perhaps Will Jacks could fulfil a comparable function to Moeen Ali in 2023.

In the end, these changes is perfect, however Australia's superior basics having shattered expectations and pushed the team's entire approach into the harsh glare of scrutiny.