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The England head coach loathed the term Bazball since it was coined, viewing it as overly simplistic and maybe anticipating how it might be weaponised in the future. Right now, down 2-0 in an away Ashes series that began with great expectations, it has turned into the subject of mockery from Australia.

But McCullum has contributed to the problem either. After the gut-wrenching loss at the Gabba, his claim that, if anything, England were 'too prepared' before the day-night Test was akin to trying to put out a bin fire with petrol. It risks becoming his epitaph 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 McCullum says he block out external noise, he will have been acutely aware of an England team often described as carefree and lacking preparation.

The truth, as always, is more nuanced. England play as much golf during their scheduled breaks as their opponents and they train just as much. Before the Gabba Test, they did more, completing five days compared to Australia's three, given their limited experience to the pink ball and the changes in 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 blinked in his belief that minimal preparation is best. It meant a Test match's worth of focus was expended before they even took the field in the intensity of Australia's fortress. And though net practice are a opportunity to iron out technique, they can also become a comfort zone; low-pressure activity that simply keeps the reflexes sharp.

Fixtures are tight such that pre-series state games were unavailable (and uncertain value, as shown by England having played three before the whitewash in 2013-14). What is harder to square is the dismissal of domestic red-ball cricket as a valuable experience more broadly, evidenced by Jacob Bethell's unproductive season.

Match Deficiencies and Philosophical Lack of Evolution

Match practice alone prepares cricketers for the various scenarios they encounter, and it is in this area where England have thus far been found lacking. The issue is not just with the batting – as poor as some of the decision-making has been – but an attack that seems leaderless. None has shown the patience or control that the exceptional Mitchell Starc and his teammates have displayed.

McCullum's free-spirit approach was liberating during its first 12 months, an effective, well diagnosed remedy to shake off the lethargy that preceded it. The frustration now stems from how it has apparently failed to move beyond that initial phase – the lack of an second phase to the original software that has seen results decline to an even record from their most recent matches.

Squad Focus and Team Dilemmas

One such player is Jamie Smith, a gifted player, undoubtedly, but one who is being mercilessly targeted on each side of the bat and missed two key chances with the gloves. The situation is not aided when your counterpart, the Australian keeper, has just delivered a masterful display.

Based on the coach's words in the aftermath, England appear set to keep the faith with Smith in Adelaide. The hope – similar to the broader situation – is that a switch to a more familiar Test setting unleashes his best, with Perth's bouncy pitch and the unusual floodlit Test now out of the way.

Another option is to implement the plan stumbled across during the victorious series in New Zealand last year by shifting Ollie Pope down to his preferred position as a busy No. 5 or 6, handing him the gloves, and selecting a fresh face at first drop. A young contender scored runs for the Lions recently, or perhaps an all-rounder could perform a comparable function to the former spinner in 2023.

Ultimately, none of this is ideal, with Australia's better fundamentals having destroyed expectations and forced the broader philosophy into the spotlight.