Quick learner Yates steps up as tennis’ loss is cricket’s gain

Most of the time when young sportspeople are thrown in at a higher level it takes a while to develop and adapt – but occasionally someone hits the ground running.

Robert Yates is an 18year-old batsman who’s come through the ranks at Warwickshire’s academy, and is now making his mark for the senior sides.

Yates played a handful of matches for Warwickshire’s 2nd XI in 2017, and claimed a century in only his second game at that level, against Nottinghamshire in May.

“I made my 2nd XI debut this year, after playing for the U17s and the U19s, and then getting the century against Notts for the 2nd XI was a great experience,” said Yates, who scored 102, including 16 boundaries.

“I didn’t quite believe I’d got the hundred at first but then I just enjoyed it and I think it’ll stay with me for a while. I didn’t really tense up approaching 100, we’d been on and off with rain, then when I got to 96 I just went for one and got there.

“I played in about five three-dayers and a T20 – I was really pleased with that and it’s been an enjoyable year.We played Yorkshire and Ryan Sidebottom was playing so that was quite a fun experience. I only faced him for a couple of overs and I survived!

“I played against Mitch Santner in a T20 against Worcestershire so that was a good challenge, and also Jack Brooks for Yorkshire.

“I’ve also been playing 1st XI at Moseley in the Birmingham league so it’s been something of a breakthrough year.”

Yates also represented the Midlands at the U17s Super-Fours tournament in Loughborough in August – alongside fellow Bears Ethan Brookes, Jacques Banton, Ben Griffin and George Garrett.

The youngster is in good hands, too, he’s training with Warwickshire legend and now development coach Ian Westwood over the winter, before travelling to Barbados in February with the academy squad.

Yates proved talented in a number of sports from a young age, but opted to focus on cricket and is now determined to make it to the top.

“I started in the garden just with my parents and my grandparents,” he added. “I started playing at about eight and joined Moseley – from there I was put forward to county trials, got in and have been through the county age-groups ever since.

“My mum’s from Yorkshire so she’s a huge cricket fan, nobody’s hugely serious about it but we’re a sporting family.

“I used to play football when I was nine or ten, tennis as well. I used to play for a few academies and then I knocked that on the head when tennis got a bit more serious – I was at Villa then had a spell at Man United as well.

“Then it was tennis or cricket. I played tennis at county level until I was 12 or 13 then it was just cricket which became my priority.

“Cricket’s just what I want to do, but I’m still doing A-Levels so I’ve got a back-up there if it doesn’t all go to plan!”