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The England head coach detested the term Bazball since it was coined, viewing it as reductive and maybe foreseeing how it might be used as a weapon down the line. Right now, trailing 2-0 in an away Ashes series that began with high hopes, it has become the butt of Australian jokes.

However the coach has not helped himself either. Following the crushing defeat at the Gabba, his claim that, if anything, England were 'over-prepared' prior to the day-night Test was like attempting to extinguish a bin fire with petrol. It risks becoming his epitaph as England head coach if results do not improve.

In a way, one must 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 freewheeling and lacking preparation.

The truth, as ever, is not so simple. England play as much golf during their scheduled breaks as their rivals and they practice equally hard. Prior to the Gabba Test, they did more, completing five days to Australia's three, due to their limited experience to the pink 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 call – the moment he wavered in his belief that less is more. It suggested a significant amount of mental energy was used up before they even took the field in the intensity of Australia's fortress. And though nets are a chance to iron out technique, they can also become a comfort zone; low-pressure work that simply keeps the reflexes sharp.

Fixtures are tight such that warm-up matches against state sides were unavailable (with no guarantee, when you consider England playing three before the 5-0 series loss in 2013-14). What is harder to square is the disregard of domestic red-ball cricket as a worthwhile exercise in general, evidenced by a young player's wasted summer.

Match Shortcomings and Philosophical Stagnation

Only playing hardens 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 bat – harrowing as some of the decision-making has been – but an bowling attack that seems leaderless. None has demonstrated the persistence or control that the exceptional Mitchell Starc and his teammates have displayed.

McCullum's free-spirit outlook was freeing during its initial year, an effective, well diagnosed solution to eradicate the lethargy that preceded it. The disappointment now comes in how it has apparently not evolved past that initial phase – the lack of an second phase to the initial philosophy that has seen results decline to 14 wins and 14 losses from their most recent matches.

Squad Focus and Selection Decisions

One such player is the wicketkeeper-batter, a gifted player, no question, but one who is being constantly tested on each side of the bat and has dropped two key chances as wicketkeeper. It probably does not help when your counterpart, Alex Carey, has just delivered a virtuoso display.

Based on McCullum's words 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 Test setting unleashes his best, with Perth's trampoline surface and the unusual day-night format now out of the way.

The alternative is to enact the plan stumbled across during the series win in New Zealand 12 months ago by shifting the batsman down to his more natural home as a busy No. 5 or 6, handing him the gloves, and picking a fresh face at first drop. Bethell made some runs for the Lions recently, or perhaps an all-rounder could perform a similar role to Moeen Ali in 2023.

In the end, none of this is perfect, with Australia's better fundamentals having shattered expectations and pushed the broader philosophy into the spotlight.