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The England head coach detested the label Bazball the moment it emerged, deeming it overly simplistic and maybe anticipating how it might be weaponised in the future. Right now, down 2-0 in an Test series in Australia that began with high hopes, it has become the butt of Australian jokes.

But McCullum has not helped himself either. After the crushing defeat at the Gabba, his insistence that, if there was an issue, England were 'too prepared' prior to the day-night Test was akin to trying to put out a rubbish fire with petrol. It risks becoming his epitaph as national coach if performances do not improve.

In a way, one must admire his commitment to the bit. As much as he says he block out outside criticism, he must have been acutely aware of an England team increasingly characterised as carefree and lacking preparation.

The reality, as always, is more nuanced. England play as much golf during their necessary down time as their opponents and they practice equally hard. Before the Gabba Test, they did more, logging five days to Australia's three, given their lack of exposure to the pink Kookaburra ball and the different lighting conditions.

The Debate of Readiness and Training

The coach's point about being "excessively ready" was that those additional training days were his decision – the instance he blinked in his conviction that minimal preparation is best. It meant a significant amount of focus was used up before they even took the field in the cauldron of Australia's fortress. And though nets are a chance to iron out skills, they can also become a comfort zone; low-pressure activity that mainly maintains the reactions quick.

Schedules are tight such that warm-up matches against state sides were unavailable (and uncertain value, when you consider 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 more broadly, evidenced by a young player's wasted summer.

On-Field Shortcomings and Philosophical Stagnation

Only playing hardens cricketers for the many situations they encounter, and it is in this area where England have so far fallen well short. It is not only with the bat – as poor as some of the decision-making has been – but an bowling attack that seems without a spearhead. None has shown the patience or discipline that the exceptional Australian paceman and his support cast have displayed.

The coach's free-spirit outlook was freeing during its first 12 months, an excellent, apt remedy to eradicate the lethargy that came before. The frustration now stems from how it has apparently not evolved past that initial phase – the lack of an second phase to the initial philosophy that has seen form taper off to 14 wins and 14 losses from their last 30 Tests.

Squad Focus and Team 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 crucial opportunities as wicketkeeper. The situation is not aided when your counterpart, Alex Carey, has just produced a masterful display.

Based on McCullum's words after the match, England appear set to keep the faith with Smith in Adelaide. The expectation – as is the case – is that a return to a more familiar Test setting unleashes 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 12 months ago by shifting the batsman down to his preferred position as a busy No. 5 or 6, handing him the gloves, and picking a fresh face at first drop. A young contender scored runs for the Lions recently, or perhaps Will Jacks could perform a similar role to the former spinner in 2023.

In the end, these changes is ideal, with Australia's better fundamentals having destroyed expectations and pushed the team's entire approach into the spotlight.