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Brendon McCullum detested the label Bazball from its inception, considering it overly simplistic and perhaps anticipating how it could be used as a weapon in the future. Currently, down 2-0 in an Test series in Australia that started with high hopes, it has become the butt of mockery from Australia.

However the coach has contributed to the problem either. Following the crushing defeat at the Gabba, his claim that, if there was an issue, England were 'over-prepared' before the day-night Test was akin to trying to put out a rubbish fire with petrol. It risks becoming his lasting legacy as England head coach if performances do not take an upturn.

In a way, one must admire his dedication to the philosophy. While McCullum says he ignore external noise, he must have been acutely aware of an England team increasingly characterised as freewheeling and underprepared.

The truth, as always, is not so simple. England play as much golf during their necessary down time as their rivals and they practice equally hard. 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 different seeing conditions.

The Question of Readiness and Practice

The coach's point about being "excessively ready" was that those additional training days were his decision – the instance he wavered in his belief that less is more. It suggested a significant amount of mental energy was expended before they even took the field in the cauldron of Australia's fortress. And though nets are a chance to refine technique, they can also become a comfort zone; zero consequence work that simply keeps the reactions quick.

Schedules 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 county championship cricket as a valuable experience in general, evidenced by Jacob Bethell's unproductive season.

On-Field Deficiencies and Strategic Stagnation

Only playing prepares cricketers for the various scenarios they encounter, and it is in this area where England have so 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 without a spearhead. No bowler has shown the patience or discipline that the otherworldly Australian paceman and his support cast have delivered.

The coach's unconventional approach was freeing during its initial year, an excellent, apt solution to eradicate the lethargy that came before. The disappointment now stems from how it has seemingly not evolved past that initial phase – the lack of an second phase to the initial philosophy that has seen results decline to an even record from their most recent matches.

Player Spotlight and Team Dilemmas

One such player is the wicketkeeper-batter, a gifted player, no question, but one who is being mercilessly targeted on both edges and missed two key chances with the gloves. The situation is not aided when your opposite number, the Australian keeper, has just delivered a masterful display.

Based on McCullum's words after the match, England look likely to persist with Smith in Adelaide. The hope – as is the case – is that a return to a traditional match environment triggers his best, with Perth's trampoline surface and the unfamiliar day-night format now in the past.

The alternative is to implement the plan stumbled across during the victorious series in New Zealand last year by moving the batsman down to his more natural home as a active No. 5 or 6, handing him the gloves, and selecting a fresh face at first drop. Bethell made some runs for the Lions recently, or perhaps an all-rounder could fulfil a similar role to Moeen Ali in 2023.

In the end, these changes is perfect, however Australia's better fundamentals having shattered expectations and forced the broader philosophy into the harsh glare of scrutiny.