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The England head coach despised the label Bazball from its inception, deeming it reductive and perhaps foreseeing 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 turned into the subject of mockery from Australia.

However the coach has contributed to the problem either. After the crushing defeat at the Gabba, his insistence that, if anything, England were 'too prepared' prior to the day-night Test was like trying to put out a bin fire with petrol. It risks becoming his lasting legacy as national coach if results do not improve.

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

The truth, as ever, is more nuanced. England play as much golf during their necessary down time as their opponents and they practice equally hard. Prior to the Gabba Test, they did more, logging five days to Australia's three, given their lack of exposure to the pink ball and the different seeing conditions.

The Debate of Preparation and Practice

McCullum's point about being "over-prepared" was that those five extra days were his decision – the moment he wavered in his conviction that minimal preparation is best. It meant a significant amount of focus was expended before they even took the field in the intensity of Australia's fortress. And though net practice are a chance to iron out skills, they can also become a comfort zone; zero consequence work that mainly keeps the reflexes sharp.

Fixtures are congested such that pre-series state games were not possible (and uncertain value, when you consider England having played three before the 5-0 series loss in 2013-14). More difficult to justify is the dismissal of county championship cricket as a worthwhile exercise more broadly, as shown by Jacob Bethell's unproductive season.

Match Deficiencies and Strategic Lack of Evolution

Only playing prepares cricketers for the various scenarios they walk out to face, and it is in this area where England have thus 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 without a spearhead. None has shown the persistence or control that the exceptional Australian paceman and his support cast have displayed.

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

Player Spotlight and Team Decisions

Among them is Jamie Smith, a gifted player, undoubtedly, but one who is being mercilessly targeted on both edges and has dropped two key chances with the gloves. The situation is not aided when your counterpart, the Australian keeper, has just delivered a masterful display.

Going by McCullum's comments in the aftermath, England appear set to persist with Smith in Adelaide. The hope – similar to the broader situation – is that a return to a traditional match environment triggers his top form, with Perth's bouncy pitch and the unfamiliar day-night format now in the past.

The alternative is to enact the plan discovered during the victorious series in New Zealand last year by moving the batsman down to his more natural home as a busy middle order player, handing him the wicketkeeping duties, and picking a new No 3. A young contender made some runs for the Lions recently, or perhaps Will Jacks could fulfil a similar role to Moeen Ali in 2023.

Ultimately, none of this is ideal, however Australia's better fundamentals having destroyed expectations and forced the team's entire approach into the spotlight.