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You can find a fascinating masterclass segment featuring the England coach and Rob Key. Shot during 2016, it captures the two men in a state of relaxed confidence, laughing during a session while discussing the art of hitting.

Their rapport between them seems palpable. It feels like an intrusion. This is pure McCullum’s mindset: all about entering a clear head as the primary goal.

“My plan is to hit the ball over there, sometimes somewhere else,” he explains with a shrug. Questioned about his quick hands, he replies: “I’m not entirely sure.”

It’s no surprise that his masterclass is devoid of deep intellectual detail. The value lies in seeing an incredibly talented player articulate a philosophy of instinct and simplicity. He admits his Test method was transferable because “in Test cricket I never really had a defensive game that was going to sustain quality bowling.”

The Core Question: Is a Motivational Figure Run an Ashes Tour?

This prompts a crucial query: Would you entrust the instinctive thinker to plan, coach, and detail-manage a gruelling Ashes tour? Furthermore, what if this philosophy then fails due to inadequate preparation? Should you then ask him to try again, to adapt a life approach built on paring it back?

By now, the coach can seem akin to an inspirational guru where the simple mantra has been stretched to an entire complex organisation. He can be an effective inspirational figure is clear. But that doesn’t mean he is equipped to run all the minute logistical planning.

Judgement Must Come

For this reason, the head coach must now be judged by normal rules of success and failure, whatever the outcome this weekend. There is an argument that both teams might benefit structurally from losing this final Test.

However, this would be a mistake to become sidetracked by any a final win. The fundamental failures remain. The primary job for the leadership was to oversee the environment and prep the details. One cannot excuse a failure of planning just due to the talent on the field managed to overcome it later on.

Keeping perspective will be hard if the team win or draw in Sydney. Plenty of side-shows are present. The host nation's response to losing in Melbourne has been wildly exaggerated, from criticism of the pitch and lamentations about the decline of traditional values. This is highly comforting fodder for the touring side.

Don’t Be Misled

• Do not get distracted because the fourth Test constituted an excellent victory despite the pitch furore.
• Do not look away by the approaching T20 World Cup, an event that seems to appear with relentless frequency.
• Above all, don’t be distracted that replacing the management will not solve the deep-rooted systemic issues of the domestic game.

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

The Precedent of Poor Preparation

This is why accountability must exist. What message does it set if it turns out teams are excused for skipping proper warm-up games, not employing a fielding coach, or not organising a pink-ball practice for squad members unfamiliar with the conditions?

Add to this every other fine detail, including the curious case of Shoaib Bashir, who was dropped for a part-time all-rounder. If none of that matters, it implies nothing really matters.

Prior to Sydney, attempts to rewrite history has begun. Arguments are made that it was fine to skip practice games as the team has done so before and were victorious. Such reasoning conveniently ignores key differences, such as past opponents lacked preparation, while Australia were primed and ready. Just because you passed one exam without revising is no justification for you should never study.

The Captain’s Verdict and The Future

The primary case for retaining the current regime centres on lessons can be learned from this experience. The idea that the coach could add a grasp of detail to his inspirationalism remains unproven. His entire method has been simplification. How would a detail-oriented McCullum actually look like?

Ben Stokes becomes the key figure. His talk of ‘weak men’ seemed an emergency attempt to introduce rigour and accountability behind the team’s baggy first principles. Stokes will be asked to give his own tour review. An honest, impartial account might easily see the coach dangling by a thread, with Key forced to admit a lack of oversight.

Sydney presents a chance to win again. Yet this must not be permitted to cloud these facts. There is a need for consequences, for jeopardy, and for a forensic eye on performance. This is Test cricket that still matters.