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Brendon McCullum loathed the moniker Bazball the moment it emerged, viewing it as overly simplistic and perhaps foreseeing how it could be used as a weapon in the future. Right now, trailing 2-0 in an away Ashes series that started with high hopes, it has turned into the subject of Australian jokes.

However the coach has contributed to the problem either. After the gut-wrenching loss 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 national coach if results do not take an upturn.

In a way, one must admire his commitment to the bit. As much as he claims to block out outside criticism, he will have been all too aware of an England team increasingly characterised as carefree and underprepared.

The reality, as ever, is more nuanced. England enjoy golf just as much during their necessary down time as their opponents and they train just as much. Prior to the Gabba Test, they did more, completing five days compared to Australia's three, given their limited experience to the pink ball and the changes in lighting conditions.

The Question of Preparation and Practice

McCullum's point about being "excessively ready" was that those five extra days were his decision – the moment he blinked in his belief that minimal preparation is best. It meant a significant amount of mental energy was expended before they even stepped out in the cauldron of Australia's fortress. While nets are a opportunity to refine skills, they can also become a safety blanket; zero consequence work that simply maintains the reactions quick.

Schedules are congested such that pre-series state games were not possible (and no guarantee, as shown by England having played 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 valuable experience in general, evidenced by a young player's wasted summer.

On-Field Deficiencies and Philosophical Lack of Evolution

Only playing prepares cricketers for the many situations they walk out to face, and it is here where England have so far been found lacking. It is not only with the batting – harrowing as some of the shot selection has been – but an bowling attack that seems without a spearhead. None has demonstrated the persistence or discipline that the otherworldly Australian paceman and his support cast have displayed.

The coach's free-spirit outlook was liberating during its first 12 months, an excellent, apt remedy to eradicate the lethargy that preceded it. The frustration now stems from how it has apparently not evolved past that initial phase – the lack of an upgrade to the initial philosophy that has seen form decline to 14 wins and 14 losses from their most recent matches.

Player Spotlight and Selection Dilemmas

Among them is Jamie Smith, a gifted player, no question, but one who is being constantly tested on each side of the bat and has dropped two key chances with the gloves. It probably does not help when your counterpart, the Australian keeper, has just produced a masterful display.

Based on the coach's words after the match, England look likely to keep the faith with Smith in Adelaide. The hope – similar to the broader situation – is that a return to a traditional match environment triggers his best, with Perth's bouncy pitch and the unusual floodlit Test now out of the way.

Another option is to enact the plan discovered 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, giving him the wicketkeeping duties, and picking a fresh face at first drop. Bethell scored runs for the Lions recently, or perhaps Will Jacks could perform a similar role to Moeen Ali in 2023.

Ultimately, none of this is perfect, with Australia's better fundamentals having shattered pre-series optimism and forced the broader philosophy into the spotlight.