A combination of team spirit, which helped them through some difficult times in 2007, and going back to basics has made the difference for Bradford & Bingley this season.

Last campaign they finished tenth, whereas after yesterday’s matches they were second – a mere five points off the lead.

“The players we have got are good enough but they just under-performed last season,” confessed Phil Slater, who took over the captaincy from Carl Sharp during the winter.

“Batting-wise we played too many shots and bowling-wise we tried too hard to bowl wicket-taking deliveries. This season we have gone back to basics with both our batting and bowling.”

One factor in their revival has been the contribution of overseas player Amila Ranga in both main facets of the game.

South African pace bowler Ethy Mbhalati had been Bingley’s overseas player for two seasons but Slater explained: “We decided to go for a batter this time.

“Amila Ranga has come in and done a great job. He has also bowled well for us and long may it continue.”

As for the team’s improvement, Slater – speaking before yesterday’s game at East Bierley was abandoned without a ball being bowled – added: “One thing hasn’t made the difference but this year, as last year, we have a great team spirit.

“Since I joined last year, it has been fantastic. We are all mates and we all see each other off the field as well as on it and that is one of the good things about Bingley.

“Also a lot of the lads are local, which helps, and our team spirit helped us through the difficult times last season and helped us stay up and move on to this year when we have done so well.

“This year we have come out and proved what we can do and everyone has contributed in one game or another.

“Chris Thompson has got wickets and runs and Macca (Richard McCarthy) has got loads of wickets – but they have been able to do that because of the team’s performances.

“You hear plenty of rumours over the winter but we knew before the end of last season that Richard wasn’t going to retire.

“We were confident that he could not only continue but continue taking wickets and he has proved so far this season that he is one of the best, if not the best, bowlers in the league.”

As for where Bingley might finish, all-rounder Slater added: “If we keep playing the way we are playing and challenging the top sides, like we did against Woodlands, there is no reason why we can’t be challenging for the title and pushing to finish top.”