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The England head coach detested the moniker Bazball since it was coined, deeming it overly simplistic and perhaps anticipating how it might be weaponised down the line. 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 the coach has not helped himself either. Following the gut-wrenching loss at the Gabba, his insistence that, if anything, England were 'over-prepared' before the pink-ball match was akin to trying to put out a rubbish fire with gasoline. It risks becoming his lasting legacy as national coach if results do not take an upturn.

In a way, one must admire his dedication to the philosophy. While he says he ignore external noise, he will have been all too aware of an England team increasingly characterised as carefree and lacking preparation.

The reality, as always, is more nuanced. 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 did more, logging five days to Australia's three, due to their limited experience to the pink Kookaburra ball and the different seeing conditions.

The Debate of Preparation and Training

The coach's point about being "over-prepared" was that those additional training days were his decision – the moment he blinked in his belief that minimal preparation is best. It meant a Test match's worth of mental energy was used up before they even took the field in the intensity of Australia's stronghold. While net practice are a opportunity to iron out technique, they can also become a safety blanket; low-pressure activity that simply keeps the reactions quick.

Schedules are tight such that pre-series state games were unavailable (with no guarantee, as shown by England playing three before the whitewash in 2013-14). More difficult to justify is the disregard of domestic red-ball cricket as a worthwhile exercise in general, evidenced by Jacob Bethell's wasted summer.

On-Field Shortcomings and Philosophical Stagnation

Match practice alone hardens cricketers for the various scenarios they walk out to face, and it is in this area where England have so far fallen well short. It is not only with the bat – as poor as some of the shot selection has been – but an attack that seems leaderless. No bowler has demonstrated the patience or discipline that the exceptional Australian paceman and his teammates have delivered.

The coach's unconventional approach was liberating during its first 12 months, an excellent, apt remedy to shake off the lethargy that preceded it. The disappointment now stems from how it has apparently not evolved past that point – an absence of an upgrade to the initial philosophy that has seen results taper off to an even record from their last 30 Tests.

Squad Spotlight and Selection Decisions

One such player is Jamie Smith, a talent, no question, but one who is being mercilessly targeted on both edges and has dropped two key chances as wicketkeeper. The situation is not aided when your opposite number, Alex Carey, has just delivered a virtuoso performance.

Based on McCullum's words after the match, 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 unfamiliar day-night format now out of the way.

The alternative is to implement the plan stumbled across during the victorious series in New Zealand last year by shifting the batsman down to his more natural home as a active middle order player, giving him the gloves, and selecting a new No 3. A young contender made some runs for the Lions recently, or maybe an all-rounder could fulfil a similar role to Moeen Ali in 2023.

Ultimately, none of this is ideal, however Australia's superior basics having shattered expectations and forced the team's entire approach into the spotlight.