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Brendon McCullum despised the label Bazball since it was coined, viewing it as overly simplistic and maybe anticipating how it could be weaponised in the future. Right now, down 2-0 in an away Ashes series that began with high hopes, it has become the butt of mockery from Australia.

However McCullum has not helped himself either. After the gut-wrenching loss at the Gabba, his insistence that, if there was an issue, England were 'too prepared' before the pink-ball match was akin to attempting to extinguish a rubbish 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 McCullum claims to block out outside criticism, he must have been acutely aware of an England team increasingly characterised as freewheeling and lacking preparation.

The truth, as always, is not so simple. England play as much golf during their necessary down time as their rivals and they practice equally hard. Before the Gabba Test, they did more, completing five days to Australia's three, due to their limited experience to the pink Kookaburra ball and the changes in lighting conditions.

The Debate of Readiness and Training

The coach's point about being "over-prepared" was that those five extra days were his call – the instance he wavered in his belief that minimal preparation is best. It suggested a significant amount of mental energy was used up before they even took the field 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.

Schedules are congested such that warm-up matches against state sides were not possible (and uncertain value, when you consider England playing three before the 5-0 series loss in 2013-14). More difficult to justify is the disregard of domestic red-ball cricket as a worthwhile exercise more broadly, as shown by a young player's wasted summer.

On-Field Deficiencies and Philosophical Stagnation

Only playing prepares cricketers for the various scenarios they encounter, and it is in this area where England have so far been found lacking. It is not only with the batting – harrowing as some of the decision-making has been – but an bowling attack that seems without a spearhead. None has shown the persistence or control that the exceptional Australian paceman and his teammates have displayed.

McCullum's unconventional approach was liberating during its first 12 months, an effective, apt remedy to eradicate the lethargy that preceded it. The frustration now stems from how it has seemingly failed to move beyond that point – the lack of an upgrade to the initial philosophy that has seen form taper off to an even record from their last 30 Tests.

Squad Spotlight and Team Dilemmas

One such player is Jamie Smith, a gifted player, no question, but one who is being mercilessly targeted on each side of the bat and missed two key chances as wicketkeeper. It probably does not help when your counterpart, the Australian keeper, has just delivered a masterful display.

Going by McCullum's comments after the match, England appear set to persist with Smith in Adelaide. The expectation – similar to the broader situation – is that a switch to a more familiar match environment triggers his top form, with Perth's trampoline surface and the unusual day-night format now out of the way.

Another option is to enact the plan discovered during the series win in New Zealand last year by shifting the batsman down to his more natural home as a busy No. 5 or 6, giving him the wicketkeeping duties, and picking a new No 3. A young contender scored runs for the Lions over the weekend, or maybe an all-rounder could fulfil a similar role to the former spinner in 2023.

In the end, these changes is perfect, with Australia's superior basics having shattered expectations and pushed the broader philosophy into the spotlight.