In 1961, Yates played a single first-class match for Cambridge University against the Free Foresters.
[1] In the match he batted once, remaining unbeaten on 0 and taking 3 catches behind the stumps.
[2] In 1963, he played a single Minor Counties Championship match for Cambridgeshire against Wiltshire.
[3] The following year, Yates played in a List A match for Cambridgeshire against Essex in the 1964 Gillette Cup.
[4] In his only List A match, he scored five runs but did not make any dismissals.