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Brendon McCullum despised the label Bazball since it was coined, deeming it reductive and maybe anticipating how it might be used as a weapon in the future. Right now, trailing 2-0 in an away Ashes series that began with high hopes, it has turned into the subject of mockery from Australia.

But the coach has contributed to the problem either. Following the crushing defeat at the Gabba, his insistence that, if anything, England were 'too prepared' prior to the day-night Test was akin to trying to put out a rubbish fire with gasoline. It could become his lasting legacy as national coach if results do not take an upturn.

In a way, you almost have to admire his commitment to the bit. As much as he claims to block out outside criticism, he must have been all too aware of an England team often described as carefree and underprepared.

The reality, as ever, is more nuanced. England enjoy golf just as much during their necessary down time as their opponents and they practice equally hard. Before the Gabba Test, they trained for longer, completing five days to Australia's three, given their limited experience to the pink ball and the changes in lighting conditions.

The Debate of Readiness and Practice

The coach's point about being "excessively ready" was that those five extra days were his call – the moment 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 intensity of Australia's fortress. While net practice are a chance to refine skills, they can also become a safety blanket; low-pressure work that simply maintains the reactions quick.

Schedules are tight such that warm-up matches against state sides were unavailable (and no guarantee, when you consider England having played 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 in general, as shown by a young player's wasted summer.

On-Field Shortcomings and Philosophical Stagnation

Only playing hardens cricketers for the many situations they encounter, and it is here where England have so far been found lacking. The issue is not just with the batting – as poor as some of the decision-making has been – but an bowling attack that seems leaderless. None has demonstrated the patience or discipline that the otherworldly Mitchell Starc and his teammates have displayed.

The coach's unconventional approach was freeing during its first 12 months, an effective, apt remedy to eradicate the lethargy that came before. The disappointment now comes in how it has seemingly not evolved past that initial phase – the lack of an upgrade to the original software that has seen form taper off to an even record from their last 30 Tests.

Squad Focus and Selection Dilemmas

One such player is Jamie Smith, a gifted player, undoubtedly, but one who is being constantly tested on each side of the bat and missed two crucial opportunities with the gloves. It probably does not help when your counterpart, Alex Carey, has just produced a masterful performance.

Based on the coach's words in the aftermath, England appear set to keep the faith with Smith in Adelaide. The hope – as is the case – is that a switch to a traditional Test setting unleashes his best, with Perth's trampoline surface and the unfamiliar day-night format now out of the way.

The alternative is to enact the plan discovered during the victorious series in New Zealand 12 months ago by shifting the batsman down to his preferred position as a busy middle order player, handing him the gloves, and selecting a new No 3. A young contender scored runs for the Lions over the weekend, or maybe an all-rounder could fulfil a comparable function to Moeen Ali in 2023.

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