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Brendon McCullum loathed the label Bazball the moment it emerged, considering it overly simplistic and perhaps foreseeing how it could be weaponised in the future. Currently, down 2-0 in an Test series in Australia that began with high hopes, it has turned into the subject of Australian jokes.

But McCullum has contributed to the problem either. After 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 akin to attempting to extinguish a bin fire with petrol. It could become his lasting legacy as national coach if results do not improve.

On one level, one must admire his commitment to the bit. While McCullum claims to block out external noise, he must have been acutely aware of an England team often described as carefree and underprepared.

The reality, as ever, is more nuanced. England enjoy golf just as much during their scheduled breaks as their rivals and they train just as much. Before the Gabba Test, they did more, completing five days to Australia's three, given their limited experience to the pink Kookaburra ball and the different seeing conditions.

The Debate of Preparation and Practice

McCullum's point about being "over-prepared" was that those five extra days were his decision – the instance he wavered in his conviction that minimal preparation is best. It meant a Test match's worth of mental energy was expended before they even took the field in the cauldron of Australia's stronghold. And though net practice are a chance to iron out skills, they can also become a safety blanket; zero consequence work that simply maintains the reflexes sharp.

Fixtures are congested such that warm-up matches against state sides were not possible (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 valuable experience more broadly, as shown by a young player's wasted summer.

On-Field Shortcomings and Philosophical Lack of Evolution

Match practice alone hardens cricketers for the many situations they encounter, and it is in this area where England have so far been found lacking. It is not only with the batting – as poor as some of the decision-making has been – but an attack that seems without a spearhead. None has shown the patience or discipline that the exceptional Mitchell Starc and his support cast have delivered.

McCullum's unconventional outlook was freeing during its first 12 months, an effective, apt remedy to shake off the lethargy that came before. The frustration now stems from how it has seemingly not evolved past that point – an absence of an upgrade to the original software that has seen results decline to 14 wins and 14 losses from their most recent matches.

Player Spotlight and Team Dilemmas

One such player is Jamie Smith, a gifted player, no question, but one who is being mercilessly targeted on both edges and has dropped two crucial opportunities as wicketkeeper. It probably does not help when your counterpart, Alex Carey, has just produced a virtuoso performance.

Based on the coach's comments after the match, England look likely to keep the faith with Smith in Adelaide. The expectation – as is the case – is that a switch to a traditional Test setting triggers his best, with Perth's bouncy pitch and the unusual floodlit Test now in the past.

Another option is to implement the plan discovered during the series win in New Zealand 12 months ago by moving Ollie Pope down to his more natural home as a busy middle order player, handing him the gloves, and selecting a new No 3. A young contender scored runs for the Lions recently, or maybe Will Jacks could fulfil a similar role to Moeen Ali in 2023.

In the end, these changes is perfect, with Australia's superior basics having destroyed expectations and pushed the broader philosophy into the harsh glare of scrutiny.