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Brendon McCullum despised the label Bazball the moment it emerged, viewing it as overly simplistic and perhaps foreseeing how it could be weaponised down the line. Currently, trailing 2-0 in an away Ashes series that started with great expectations, it has become the butt of Australian jokes.

But McCullum has not helped himself either. After the gut-wrenching loss at the Gabba, his claim that, if anything, England were 'over-prepared' prior to the day-night Test was akin to trying to put out a bin fire with petrol. It could become his epitaph as England head coach if performances do not take an upturn.

On one level, you almost have to admire his commitment to the bit. As much as McCullum claims to ignore outside criticism, he will have been acutely aware of an England team often described as carefree and underprepared.

The reality, as ever, is not so simple. England enjoy golf just as much during their necessary down time as their opponents and they train just as much. Prior to 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 Question of Readiness and Training

McCullum's point about being "over-prepared" was that those additional training days were his decision – the instance he wavered in his belief that minimal preparation is best. It meant a significant amount of focus was used up before they even stepped out in the intensity of Australia's stronghold. And though nets are a opportunity to refine skills, they can also become a comfort zone; low-pressure activity that simply keeps the reactions quick.

Schedules are congested such that warm-up matches against state sides were unavailable (with 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 valuable experience in general, evidenced by a young player's unproductive season.

On-Field Deficiencies and Philosophical Lack of Evolution

Only playing hardens cricketers for the various scenarios they encounter, and it is in this area where England have so far been found lacking. The issue is not just with the bat – harrowing as some of the decision-making has been – but an attack that seems without a spearhead. None has shown the persistence or control that the otherworldly Mitchell Starc and his support cast have displayed.

McCullum's free-spirit approach was liberating during its first 12 months, an effective, apt solution to shake off the lethargy that came before. The disappointment now stems from how it has seemingly failed to move beyond that initial phase – the lack of an upgrade to the initial philosophy that has seen form decline to 14 wins and 14 losses from their most recent matches.

Player Focus and Selection Decisions

Among them is the wicketkeeper-batter, a gifted player, no question, but one who is being constantly tested on both edges and has dropped two crucial opportunities as wicketkeeper. The situation is not aided when your counterpart, Alex Carey, has just delivered a virtuoso display.

Going by McCullum's words after the match, England look likely to keep the faith 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 unfamiliar day-night format now in the past.

The alternative is to enact the plan stumbled across during the victorious series in New Zealand last year by moving Ollie Pope down to his more natural home as a busy No. 5 or 6, giving him the gloves, and selecting a fresh face at first drop. A young contender made some runs for the Lions recently, or maybe an all-rounder could perform a comparable function to Moeen Ali in 2023.

In the end, these changes is perfect, however Australia's better fundamentals having destroyed expectations and pushed the team's entire approach into the spotlight.