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Brendon McCullum despised the moniker Bazball from its inception, viewing it as overly simplistic and perhaps anticipating how it could be weaponised down the line. Currently, trailing 2-0 in an Test series in Australia 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 insistence that, if anything, England were 'too prepared' prior to the pink-ball match was like trying to put out a bin fire with gasoline. It could become his epitaph as England head coach if performances do not take an upturn.

In a way, you almost have to admire his dedication to the philosophy. As much as he says he block out outside criticism, he must have been acutely aware of an England team often described as freewheeling and underprepared.

The reality, as always, is more nuanced. England play as much golf during their scheduled breaks as their rivals and they practice equally hard. Before the Gabba Test, they did more, completing five days to Australia's three, due to their lack of exposure to the pink Kookaburra ball and the changes in lighting conditions.

The Debate of Readiness and Practice

McCullum's point about being "excessively ready" was that those additional training days were his decision – the instance he wavered in his belief that minimal preparation is best. It meant a significant amount of mental energy was expended before they even took the field in the intensity of Australia's stronghold. While net practice are a opportunity to iron out skills, they can also become a safety blanket; low-pressure activity that simply keeps the reflexes sharp.

Schedules are tight such that warm-up matches against state sides were unavailable (and uncertain value, when you consider England playing three before the 5-0 series loss in 2013-14). What is harder to square is the disregard of county championship cricket as a valuable experience in general, evidenced by Jacob Bethell's unproductive season.

On-Field Deficiencies and Strategic Lack of Evolution

Match practice alone prepares cricketers for the various scenarios they walk out to face, and it is in this area where England have so far been found lacking. The issue is not just with the batting – harrowing as some of the shot selection has been – but an attack that seems leaderless. None has shown the persistence or control that the exceptional Mitchell Starc and his teammates have displayed.

The coach's free-spirit approach was freeing during its initial year, an effective, apt remedy to shake off the torpor that came before. The frustration now comes in how it has apparently not evolved past that point – the lack of an second phase to the initial philosophy that has seen results decline to an even record from their last 30 Tests.

Squad Focus and Team Decisions

Among them is the wicketkeeper-batter, a talent, 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 produced a masterful display.

Going by the coach's comments after the match, England look likely to persist with Smith in Adelaide. The hope – as is the case – is that a switch to a more familiar match environment unleashes his top form, with Perth's trampoline surface and the unusual floodlit Test now in the past.

The alternative is to enact the plan stumbled across during the victorious series in New Zealand 12 months ago by shifting Ollie Pope down to his more natural home as a busy No. 5 or 6, handing him the wicketkeeping duties, and picking a fresh face at first drop. Bethell scored runs for the Lions recently, or perhaps an all-rounder could perform a comparable function to Moeen Ali in 2023.

Ultimately, these changes is perfect, however Australia's better fundamentals having shattered pre-series optimism and pushed the broader philosophy into the harsh glare of scrutiny.