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The England head coach loathed the term Bazball since it was coined, considering it reductive and perhaps anticipating how it could be used as a weapon in the future. Right now, trailing 2-0 in an away Ashes series that started with great expectations, it has become the butt of mockery from Australia.

However the coach has contributed to the problem either. After the crushing loss at the Gabba, his claim that, if anything, England were 'over-prepared' prior to the day-night Test was like trying to put out a rubbish fire with gasoline. It could become his lasting legacy as national coach if results do not take an upturn.

In a way, one must admire his dedication to the philosophy. As much as he claims to block out external noise, he will have been acutely aware of an England team increasingly characterised as carefree and underprepared.

The reality, as ever, is not so simple. England play as much golf during their necessary down time as their rivals and they train just as much. Prior to the Gabba Test, they trained for longer, completing five days to Australia's three, due to their limited experience to the pink ball and the different seeing conditions.

The Debate of Readiness and Training

The coach's point about being "over-prepared" was that those five extra days were his decision – the instance he wavered in his belief that less is more. It suggested a Test match's worth of mental energy was used up before they even stepped out in the cauldron of Australia's stronghold. While nets are a chance to iron out technique, they can also become a safety blanket; zero consequence activity that simply maintains the reflexes sharp.

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 county championship cricket as a worthwhile exercise in general, as shown by Jacob Bethell's unproductive season.

On-Field Deficiencies and Strategic Lack of Evolution

Only playing hardens cricketers for the many situations they encounter, and it is in this area where England have thus far been found lacking. It is not only 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 persistence or discipline that the otherworldly Mitchell Starc and his support cast have displayed.

The coach's free-spirit outlook was freeing during its initial year, an excellent, well diagnosed remedy to eradicate the lethargy that came before. The disappointment now comes in how it has seemingly failed to move beyond that point – the lack of an upgrade to the original software 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 gifted player, no question, but one who is being mercilessly targeted on both edges and has dropped two crucial opportunities as wicketkeeper. The situation is not aided when your counterpart, Alex Carey, has just delivered a virtuoso display.

Going by the coach's comments in the aftermath, England appear set to keep the faith with Smith in Adelaide. The expectation – similar to the broader situation – is that a return to a traditional match environment unleashes his top form, with Perth's bouncy pitch and the unfamiliar floodlit Test now in the past.

The alternative is to implement the plan stumbled across during the victorious series in New Zealand last year by moving Ollie Pope down to his more natural home as a active No. 5 or 6, handing him the wicketkeeping duties, and selecting a fresh face at first drop. Bethell scored runs for the Lions recently, or maybe an all-rounder could perform a comparable function to the former spinner in 2023.

In the end, these changes is perfect, however Australia's better fundamentals having destroyed pre-series optimism and forced the team's entire approach into the harsh glare of scrutiny.