Some crowds were rowdier than you would want for a family occasion – family stands and alcohol-free zones could become more prominent. The strange regularity of pitch invaders during the men’s group stage was depressing. The disparity in pay between women and men needs to be addressed too.
And the question remains as to how The Hundred fits into the English cricket calendar.
There is no easy answer. This new tournament has been added, and takes the prime slot in the summer, but the three already in existence – the County Championship, the One-Day Cup and the Blast – have not stopped.
Given The Hundred is focused on bringing in young cricket fans, it is not going to budge from the school holidays.
Most would agree the current schedule left England’s Test team underprepared for their series against India, with no four-day matches in the lead-up.
That said, to solely blame The Hundred for England’s feeble defeat is too simplistic. England’s top order was collapsing like a pack of cards long before this new tournament was even first discussed.
Efforts to make a better compromise should be made, though.
If it works to its best, The Hundred should be able to complement county cricket rather than hurt it.
It has already brought in extra money through the recent TV rights deal. Organisers hope it can bring in further funds and, more importantly, attract a new generation to the wider game.
The status quo before The Hundred was not pretty, with many counties struggling financially. The ECB took the extreme option and now must stay true to their word that The Hundred will help fund county cricket rather than force it into submission.
It is far too complex to answer whether English cricket’s newest venture has been a success with a simple yes or no.
In isolation, it is a ‘yes’ – the cricket has been impressive, the women’s game has been thrown to the forefront and a younger crowd turned up.
Outside of that, it is harder to say. The hope is that it does succeed. It is, after all, cricket – a sport so many of us love.