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The England head coach despised the label Bazball the moment it emerged, deeming it overly simplistic and perhaps anticipating how it might be weaponised in the future. Right now, down 2-0 in an away Ashes series that began with high hopes, it has turned into the subject of mockery from Australia.

But McCullum has not helped himself either. After the gut-wrenching loss at the Gabba, his insistence that, if there was an issue, England were 'over-prepared' before the day-night Test was akin to trying to put out a bin fire with gasoline. It could become his lasting legacy as national coach if performances do not improve.

In a way, you almost have to admire his commitment to the bit. As much as he claims to ignore external noise, he must have been acutely aware of an England team often described as freewheeling and underprepared.

The reality, as always, is more nuanced. England play as much golf during their necessary down time as their opponents and they train just as much. Prior to the Gabba Test, they trained for longer, completing five days to Australia's three, given their lack of exposure to the pink Kookaburra ball and the different seeing conditions.

The Debate of Readiness and Training

McCullum's point about being "over-prepared" was that those five extra days were his call – the moment he blinked in his conviction 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 chance to refine skills, they can also become a safety blanket; low-pressure activity that simply keeps the reactions quick.

Fixtures are tight such that warm-up matches against state sides were unavailable (and no guarantee, as shown by England playing three before the 5-0 series loss in 2013-14). More difficult to justify is the dismissal of county championship cricket as a worthwhile exercise in general, evidenced by Jacob Bethell's unproductive season.

Match Shortcomings and Strategic Lack of Evolution

Only playing hardens cricketers for the many situations they encounter, and it is in this area where England have thus far been found lacking. The issue is not just with the batting – as poor as some of the shot selection has been – but an bowling attack that seems leaderless. None has shown the patience or discipline that the otherworldly Mitchell Starc and his teammates have delivered.

The coach's free-spirit outlook was freeing during its first 12 months, an excellent, apt remedy to shake off the lethargy that came before. The disappointment now comes in how it has apparently failed to move beyond that initial phase – the lack of an second phase to the original software that has seen results decline to an even record from their last 30 Tests.

Player Spotlight and Team Dilemmas

Among them is Jamie Smith, a talent, no question, but one who is being mercilessly targeted on both edges and missed two key chances as wicketkeeper. The situation is not aided when your opposite number, Alex Carey, has just delivered a masterful display.

Based on the coach's words in the aftermath, England look likely to persist with Smith in Adelaide. The expectation – as is the case – is that a return to a traditional Test setting unleashes his best, with Perth's trampoline surface and the unusual floodlit Test now out of the way.

The alternative is to enact the plan stumbled across during the series win in New Zealand last year by shifting Ollie Pope down to his preferred position as a active No. 5 or 6, giving him the gloves, and picking a new No 3. A young contender made some runs for the Lions over the weekend, or maybe an all-rounder could perform a comparable function to Moeen Ali in 2023.

Ultimately, these changes is ideal, however Australia's superior basics having destroyed expectations and forced the broader philosophy into the harsh glare of scrutiny.