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Brendon McCullum detested the term Bazball the moment it emerged, viewing it as overly simplistic and maybe foreseeing how it might be weaponised in the future. Right now, down 2-0 in an Test series in Australia that started with great expectations, it has turned into the subject of mockery from Australia.

However McCullum has not helped himself either. After the gut-wrenching defeat at the Gabba, his claim that, if there was an issue, England were 'over-prepared' before the day-night Test was like attempting to extinguish a rubbish fire with gasoline. It could become his lasting legacy as national coach if performances do not improve.

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

The truth, as always, is more nuanced. England play as much golf during their scheduled breaks as their rivals and they practice equally hard. Prior to the Gabba Test, they did more, completing five days to Australia's three, due to their limited experience to the pink ball and the different seeing conditions.

The Debate of Readiness and Practice

McCullum's point about being "over-prepared" was that those five extra days were his call – the instance he wavered in his conviction that less is more. It meant a Test match's worth of focus was used up before they even stepped out in the cauldron of Australia's stronghold. While nets are a chance to iron out technique, they can also become a safety blanket; low-pressure work that mainly maintains the reactions quick.

Fixtures are congested such that warm-up matches against state sides were unavailable (with uncertain value, as shown by England playing 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 Jacob Bethell's unproductive season.

Match Shortcomings and Strategic Stagnation

Only playing hardens cricketers for the many situations they walk out to face, and it is in this area where England have so far been found lacking. It is not only with the bat – as poor as some of the decision-making has been – but an attack that seems leaderless. No bowler has demonstrated the persistence or control that the exceptional Australian paceman and his support cast have displayed.

McCullum's free-spirit approach was freeing during its initial year, an excellent, apt solution to shake off the torpor that came before. The frustration now stems from how it has seemingly not evolved past that initial phase – the lack of an upgrade to the initial philosophy that has seen form taper off to 14 wins and 14 losses from their most recent matches.

Player Spotlight and Team Dilemmas

Among them is the wicketkeeper-batter, a talent, undoubtedly, but one who is being constantly tested on both edges and has dropped two crucial opportunities as wicketkeeper. It probably does not help when your counterpart, Alex Carey, has just delivered a virtuoso display.

Based on the coach's comments after the match, England appear set to persist with Smith in Adelaide. The hope – similar to the broader situation – is that a return to a more familiar match environment triggers his top form, with Perth's bouncy pitch and the unusual day-night format now out of the way.

Another option is to enact the plan stumbled across during the series win in New Zealand last year by moving the batsman down to his preferred position as a busy middle order player, handing him the gloves, and picking a new No 3. Bethell scored runs for the Lions recently, or perhaps an all-rounder could fulfil a similar role to the former spinner in 2023.

In the end, these changes is perfect, with Australia's better fundamentals having shattered pre-series optimism and pushed the broader philosophy into the spotlight.