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Brendon McCullum loathed the term Bazball from its inception, viewing it as overly simplistic and perhaps anticipating how it could be weaponised in the future. Currently, down 2-0 in an Test series in Australia that began with great expectations, it has become the butt of mockery from Australia.

But the coach has not helped himself either. Following the gut-wrenching loss at the Gabba, his insistence that, if there was an issue, England were 'too prepared' prior to the day-night Test was like trying to put out a rubbish fire with petrol. It risks becoming his epitaph as England head coach if performances do not take an upturn.

On one level, one must admire his commitment to the bit. As much as McCullum claims to ignore outside criticism, he must have been acutely aware of an England team increasingly characterised as freewheeling and lacking preparation.

The reality, as ever, is more nuanced. England play as much golf during their scheduled breaks as their rivals and they train just as much. Prior to the Gabba Test, they trained for longer, logging five days 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

The coach's point about being "excessively ready" was that those additional training days were his call – the moment he wavered in his conviction that less is more. It suggested a Test match's worth of mental energy was used up before they even stepped out in the cauldron of Australia's fortress. And though nets are a opportunity to iron out skills, they can also become a safety blanket; low-pressure activity that simply keeps the reflexes sharp.

Fixtures are congested such that pre-series state games were unavailable (with uncertain value, when you consider England having played three before the 5-0 series loss in 2013-14). More difficult to justify is the disregard of county championship cricket as a valuable experience more broadly, as shown by a young player's wasted summer.

Match Deficiencies and Strategic Lack of Evolution

Only playing hardens cricketers for the various scenarios they encounter, and it is here where England have thus far fallen well short. It is not only with the bat – as poor as some of the decision-making has been – but an attack that seems without a spearhead. No bowler has demonstrated the patience or control that the otherworldly Australian paceman and his support cast have displayed.

The coach's free-spirit outlook was liberating during its first 12 months, an excellent, apt solution to shake off the torpor that preceded it. The frustration now stems from how it has apparently failed to move beyond that initial phase – an absence of an second phase to the original software that has seen form decline to 14 wins and 14 losses from their most recent matches.

Player Spotlight and Team Decisions

Among them is the wicketkeeper-batter, a gifted player, undoubtedly, but one who is being mercilessly targeted on both edges and missed two key chances with the gloves. It probably does not help when your counterpart, Alex Carey, has just delivered a masterful display.

Based on the coach's words in the aftermath, England look likely to keep the faith with Smith in Adelaide. The hope – similar to the broader situation – is that a return to a traditional match environment unleashes his top form, with Perth's trampoline surface and the unusual day-night format now in the past.

Another option is to enact the plan stumbled across during the series win in New Zealand last year by shifting Ollie Pope down to his more natural home as a active middle order player, handing him the wicketkeeping duties, and selecting a fresh face at first drop. Bethell scored runs for the Lions recently, or perhaps Will Jacks could perform a similar role to Moeen Ali in 2023.

Ultimately, none of this is ideal, however Australia's better fundamentals having shattered pre-series optimism and pushed the broader philosophy into the spotlight.