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Hidden in the archives is an illuminating video clip with Brendon McCullum alongside Rob Key. Shot back in 2016, it captures the pair in a state of relaxed confidence, laughing during a session while talking about T20 batting.

The dynamic between them seems palpable. It feels like an intrusion. This is the essence of McCullum’s mindset: a focus on entering a clear head as the primary goal.

“My plan is to hit the ball over there, occasionally somewhere else,” he says nonchalantly. When asked about his quick hands, his response is: “I don’t really know.”

It’s no great revelation that his tutorial is devoid of complex technical detail. The value lies in seeing an incredibly successful batter describe an approach built on instinct and simplicity. He admits his red-ball approach was transferable due to the fact “in Test cricket I never really had a defensive game capable of sustain quality bowling.”

A Fundamental Issue: Is a Motivational Figure Manage a Major Campaign?

This prompts an essential question: Should you entrust this same ‘masterclasser’ with planning, coach, and detail-manage an entire Ashes tour? Moreover, consider that this philosophy then fails because of inadequate preparation? Should you then ask him to try again, to change a methodology centred around stripping things away?

By now, the coach can seem akin to an inspirational guru whose simple mantra got applied to an entire national sports team. He can be a valuable inspirational figure is not in doubt. But that doesn’t mean he is the right person to run the entire minute logistical planning.

The Case for Accountability

This is precisely why, McCullum must now be held to account under standard measures of performance, whatever the outcome this weekend. One could make an argument suggesting both teams might benefit in the long run from losing the last match.

Yet, this would be an error to get distracted should England secure late-series victory. Nothing has changed. The core responsibility of McCullum and Key was to oversee the environment and handle the logistics. You do not reward poor preparation just due to the players managed to overcome it afterwards.

Keeping this clarity will be difficult should England win or draw in Sydney. Plenty of side-shows already exist. The host nation's response to defeat in Melbourne was misleadingly exaggerated, from criticism of the pitch and lamentations on the death of warrior culture. Such noise is highly distractingly feelgood for English supporters.

Don’t Be Misled

• Don’t be misled because the fourth Test was an excellent victory irrespective of the pitch furore.
• Don’t be distracted with the imminent global white-ball tournament, an event which appear all too regularly.
• Do not be distracted that changing the coach will not solve the chronic structural problems of English cricket.

Indeed, this last point is key. Hiring of inspirational but inexperienced figures to the highest roles; acceptance of a casual approach, jobs for the boys, and PR-ing your own shortcuts: this is symptomatic of a huge amount of what is wrong with the sport.

The Precedent of Poor Preparation

This is why consequences is non-negotiable. What message is sent should it emerge you can get away with not having proper warm-up games, not employing a dedicated fielding coach, failing to schedule a pink-ball practice for squad members who have never seen the conditions?

Consider also all the logistical misstep, including the strange treatment of the young spinner, ultimately dropped for Will Jacks. If none of that matters, then nothing really matters.

Prior to the final Test, revisionism has begun. Arguments are made it was acceptable to skip practice games because England did it previously and won. Such reasoning conveniently ignores critical context, namely that other teams were also underprepared, whereas Australia were fully prepared. The fact that you succeeded once without studying does not mean abandoning revision altogether.

The Captain’s Verdict and The Future

The main argument to keep the current regime is that lessons can be learned from this experience. The idea that the coach could add meticulous planning to his inspirationalism is intriguing. His super-strength has been simplification. How would a detail-oriented McCullum even function?

Ben Stokes is now pivotal. His talk of ‘weak men’ seemed an emergency attempt to introduce rigour and accountability behind the baggy first principles. He will be asked to deliver his own tour review. A clear, impartial account might easily leave McCullum in serious trouble, and the director forced to own up to a lack of oversight.

Sydney offers an opportunity for another victory. Yet this must not be allowed to obscure the fundamental issues. Above all, there must be an imperative for consequences, for stakes, and a forensic eye on how the tour was run. This is a sport that still matters.