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The England head coach loathed the term Bazball from its inception, considering it reductive and perhaps foreseeing how it could be weaponised down the line. Currently, trailing 2-0 in an away Ashes series that started with high hopes, it has become the butt of mockery from Australia.

However McCullum has not helped himself either. Following the gut-wrenching defeat at the Gabba, his claim that, if there was an issue, England were 'too prepared' before the day-night Test was like attempting to extinguish a rubbish fire with petrol. It risks becoming his epitaph as national coach if performances do not take an upturn.

On one level, you almost have to admire his dedication to the philosophy. As much as he says he ignore external noise, he will have been all too aware of an England team often described as freewheeling and lacking preparation.

The truth, as always, 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 Kookaburra ball and the changes in seeing conditions.

The Debate of Preparation and Practice

The coach's point about being "over-prepared" was that those five extra days were his call – the moment he wavered in his conviction 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 nets are a chance to refine technique, they can also become a comfort zone; low-pressure work that mainly keeps the reflexes sharp.

Fixtures are tight such that warm-up matches against state sides were not possible (with uncertain value, as shown by England having played three before the 5-0 series loss in 2013-14). More difficult to justify is the dismissal of domestic red-ball cricket as a valuable experience in general, as shown by Jacob Bethell's wasted summer.

Match Deficiencies and Philosophical Stagnation

Only playing hardens cricketers for the various scenarios they encounter, and it is in this area where England have thus far fallen well short. The issue is not just with the batting – harrowing as some of the shot selection has been – but an attack that seems leaderless. No bowler has demonstrated the patience or control that the otherworldly Australian paceman and his support cast have delivered.

McCullum's unconventional approach was freeing during its initial year, an effective, apt remedy to eradicate the lethargy that preceded it. The frustration now stems from how it has apparently not evolved past that point – the lack of an upgrade to the initial philosophy that has seen form decline to 14 wins and 14 losses from their last 30 Tests.

Squad Focus and Team Decisions

Among them is Jamie Smith, a talent, no question, but one who is being constantly tested on each side of the bat and has dropped two key chances with the gloves. The situation is not aided when your opposite number, Alex Carey, has just produced a masterful performance.

Based on the coach's comments after the match, England look likely to keep the faith with Smith in Adelaide. The expectation – similar to the broader situation – is that a switch to a traditional match environment unleashes his best, with Perth's trampoline surface and the unusual floodlit Test now out of the way.

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 middle order player, handing him the gloves, and picking a fresh face at first drop. Bethell made some runs for the Lions recently, or maybe Will Jacks could fulfil a similar role to Moeen Ali in 2023.

Ultimately, none of this is perfect, with Australia's superior basics having shattered pre-series optimism and forced the broader philosophy into the harsh glare of scrutiny.