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Brendon McCullum loathed the label Bazball from its inception, considering it overly simplistic and maybe foreseeing how it could be weaponised in the future. Right now, trailing 2-0 in an away Ashes series that began with high hopes, it has become the butt of mockery from Australia.

However the coach has not helped himself either. Following the gut-wrenching loss at the Gabba, his claim that, if there was an issue, England were 'over-prepared' prior to the pink-ball match was like attempting to extinguish a bin fire with petrol. It could become his epitaph as national coach if results do not improve.

In a way, you almost have to admire his commitment to the bit. While he says he ignore outside criticism, he must have been all too aware of an England team often described as carefree and lacking preparation.

The truth, as ever, is not so simple. England enjoy golf just as much during their scheduled breaks as their rivals and they train just as much. Prior to the Gabba Test, they did more, logging five days compared to Australia's three, due to their lack of exposure to the pink ball and the changes in seeing conditions.

The Debate of Readiness and Practice

McCullum's point about being "over-prepared" was that those additional training days were his call – the moment he wavered in his belief that minimal preparation is best. It meant a Test match's worth of focus was used up before they even stepped out in the cauldron of Australia's fortress. And though net practice are a opportunity to iron out technique, they can also become a safety blanket; zero consequence work that simply maintains the reactions quick.

Schedules are congested 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). More difficult to justify is the disregard of domestic red-ball cricket as a valuable experience in general, evidenced by Jacob Bethell's unproductive season.

On-Field Deficiencies and Philosophical 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 been found lacking. 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 persistence or discipline that the otherworldly Mitchell Starc and his support cast have displayed.

McCullum's unconventional approach was liberating during its initial year, an effective, well diagnosed solution to eradicate the torpor that came before. The disappointment now comes in how it has apparently failed to move beyond that point – the lack of an upgrade to the original software that has seen results taper off to an even record from their last 30 Tests.

Player Focus and Selection Decisions

Among them is the wicketkeeper-batter, a talent, no question, but one who is being constantly tested on both edges and missed two key chances with the gloves. It probably does not help when your counterpart, Alex Carey, has just produced a virtuoso display.

Based on McCullum's comments in the aftermath, 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 match environment unleashes his top form, with Perth's bouncy pitch and the unfamiliar floodlit Test now in the past.

The alternative is to enact the plan discovered during the victorious series in New Zealand last year by shifting the batsman down to his preferred position as a active middle order player, giving him the wicketkeeping duties, and selecting a new No 3. A young contender made some runs for the Lions over the weekend, or maybe Will Jacks could fulfil a similar role to Moeen Ali in 2023.

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