Yates was born at Trimulgherry in British India to Major Henry Townley Scott Yates and his wife, Sophia Yates. He was educated in England at Reading School.^[1] He played minor counties cricket for Berkshire in 1900, playing in three matches in the Minor Counties Championship.^[2] Yates enlisted in the British Army, where he served in the Royal Leicestershire Regiment. In June 1906 he was a lieutenant and held the duty of Superintendent of Gymnasia in the regiment.^[3] He transferred from the Royal Leicestershire Regiment to the British Indian Army shortly after, at which point he returned the rank of second lieutenant at his own request.^[4] By October 1907 he was serving in the Maratha Light Infantry, at which point he was promoted to back to the rank of lieutenant.^[5] He was promoted to captain in December 1910.^[6] While serving in British India he made his debut in first-class cricket for Europeans at Poona in the 1911/12 Bombay Presidency.^[7] He made a further first-class appearance for the Europeans in 1912, before making two further appearances in 1915.^[7]

He served during the First World War, during which he was promoted to major in December 1916.^[8] He was made a Companion to the Order of the Star of India in August 1917.^[9] He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in August 1918.^[10] Yates was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in February 1926,^[11] with promotion to the rank of brevet colonel following in July 1929.^[12] He died five months later in December at Maymo in Burma. He was survived by his son, the Reverend James Ainsworth Yates,^[13] as well as his cousin Humphrey Yates, and uncle Joseph Yates, both of whom played first-class cricket.^{[citation needed]}

• James Yates at ESPNcricinfo