Second-season syndrome has been a problem for a lot of managers in the premier league.
How do you consolidate and improve after impressing in your first year?
The first edition of The Hundred had a similar problem.
The finale at a feverish Lord's helped ensure the survival of the team. There are still questions that need to be answered about the tournament going forward.
The second season of The Hundred was billed as the year that bigger and better overseas stars would come to the show.
For most of the men's competition there was a feeling that the competition was drifting.
Saturday's finale at Lord's reminded organizers of what this competition could be - a tense affair on Saturday night television in front of a diverse crowd with enough intrigue to entertain cricket's established base and those tuning in for the first time.
When one-sided matches followed one-sided matches, there were times in the middle of the competition.
It's hard to say whether that is a result of the format or just bad luck, but the impact of England's injury list should not be overlooked.
The quality would have been lifted if those who played a part were included. If you take into account the players who have pulled out mid-tournament, you'll see that that is before you.
There was a 20% drop in TV viewing figures from the first year to the second, with a clash with the Commonwealth Games and the early start of the season cited as factors.
The attendances exceeded last year because they were more focused on ticket sales.
The eight venues set new records for women's matches, with 28% of ticket buyers being female, and 22% of those in the grounds under-16s.
The best male overseas talent must be kept if The Hundred is to succeed.
Some of The Hundred's overseas stars, including leg-spinner Tabraiz Shamsi, who would have played in the final for Trent Rockets, left to play in the Caribbean premier league just as the competition reached its climax.
The women's competition proved that it is an important part of the overall event after a delayed start.
For the first eight days, it was a men's only event.
Unlike the men's competition, the very best female overseas players in the world were on show and as a result there was a step-up in quality.
The men's top salaries are still a quarter of what the women make. The players should be paid if the women's competition is essential to the product.
The women's players were not open to the public in their first two years.
The competition may be ready for a draft process in the future, according to the organizers.
Even if critics wanted to return to the traditional balance of the English game, there was little chance that The Hundred part of the TV deal would be scrapped.
The captains have spoken of the exciting challenge of the format and the players have enjoyed it.
With the England and Wales Cricket Board running the competition, it doesn't have the pressures of its rivals.
If a player or coach doesn't do well in the indian premier league, their fans and team owners will support them. That pressure is not present in the Hundred.
It is thought that bringing in external money into the eight teams would be controversial and not be on the table for the foreseeable future.
The intense nature of the international schedule would make it hard for The Hundred to attract bigger stars.
The calendar should get better next year when a window is built into the English summer to allow England's players to participate. It is not certain whether they will do so after the intense series in the UK.
The players and coaches are held accountable for their performance on a team board.
The Welsh Fire, who finished bottom of the table with eight defeats from eight, have lost 13 of their past 14 matches and could benefit from a refresh.
The tournament can't afford to have whipping boys.
We don't know if The Hundred will stay in our lives long term.
People only remember your first and last notes. Do a good final make up for a bad tournament?
It might be possible.
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