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The England head coach detested the term Bazball from its inception, considering it overly simplistic and maybe anticipating how it might be used as a weapon in the future. Right now, trailing 2-0 in an Test series in Australia that began with great expectations, it has turned into the subject of mockery from Australia.

But McCullum has contributed to the problem either. Following the gut-wrenching loss at the Gabba, his insistence that, if anything, England were 'over-prepared' before the day-night Test was akin to attempting to extinguish a rubbish fire with gasoline. It could become his epitaph as England head coach if results do not take an upturn.

On one level, one must admire his dedication to the philosophy. As much as McCullum claims to block out external noise, he will have been all too aware of an England team often described as freewheeling and lacking preparation.

The reality, as ever, is not so simple. England enjoy golf just as much during their necessary down time as their rivals and they practice equally hard. Prior to the Gabba Test, they trained for longer, completing five days compared to Australia's three, due to their lack of exposure to the pink Kookaburra ball and the changes in lighting conditions.

The Question of Preparation and Practice

McCullum's point about being "excessively ready" was that those five extra days were his decision – 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 stepped out in the intensity of Australia's fortress. While nets are a chance to refine skills, they can also become a safety blanket; low-pressure activity that mainly keeps the reflexes sharp.

Schedules are tight such that pre-series state games were not possible (and no guarantee, when you consider England having played three before the whitewash in 2013-14). What is harder to square is the disregard of domestic red-ball cricket as a valuable experience more broadly, evidenced by a young player's wasted summer.

Match Shortcomings and Strategic Lack of Evolution

Match practice alone prepares cricketers for the various scenarios they walk out to face, and it is in this area where England have so far been found lacking. The issue is not just with the batting – as poor as some of the shot selection has been – but an attack that seems without a spearhead. No bowler has shown the persistence or control that the otherworldly Mitchell Starc and his support cast have delivered.

McCullum's unconventional outlook was liberating during its first 12 months, an effective, well diagnosed remedy to shake off the lethargy that preceded it. The disappointment now stems from how it has seemingly not evolved past that initial phase – an absence of an upgrade to the initial philosophy that has seen results taper off to 14 wins and 14 losses from their most recent matches.

Squad Focus and Selection Dilemmas

One such player is the wicketkeeper-batter, a talent, undoubtedly, but one who is being constantly tested on each side of the bat and missed two crucial opportunities with the gloves. The situation is not aided when your opposite number, the Australian keeper, has just delivered a masterful performance.

Going by the coach's comments in the aftermath, England look likely to keep the faith with Smith in Adelaide. The hope – as is the case – 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 the batsman down to his more natural home as a active No. 5 or 6, handing him the wicketkeeping duties, and selecting a fresh face at first drop. Bethell scored runs for the Lions over the weekend, or maybe Will Jacks could fulfil a similar role to the former spinner in 2023.

Ultimately, these changes is ideal, however Australia's superior basics having destroyed pre-series optimism and forced the broader philosophy into the harsh glare of scrutiny.