Lankan record breaking off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan it was Yardley who encouraged Murali to add the doosra to his arsenal. He was always adamant that Murali was not a chucker. Yardley spent several years as Regional Cricket Officer for the Western Australian Cricket Association which involved responsibility for promoting cricket and increasing participation in the South West region through school visits/programs and cricket carnivals. He was a regular cricket commentator on TV and radio. Career Yardley began playing grade cricket with Midland-Guildford as a fast medium bowler. He made his first-class cricket debut in 1966–67, taking one wicket against Queensland. However West Australia were blessed with fast bowlers during this period and he struggled to find a permanent spot, only playing in two games over six seasons. (The second game came against Victoria at the WACA in 1970–71.) In 1971 Yardley began developing his abilities as a spin bowler and worked on his batting. He gained selection for WA as a batsman in 1973–74. He scored 43 not out against the touring New Zealanders in 1974. He would occasionally bowl as well. In 1973–74 he scored a quick fire 59 in a Gillette Cup game, helping WA beat NSW. In 1974–75 he played for West Australia primarily as a batsman. After a decade in First-Class cricket Yardley had 14 First-Class matches, scoring 246 runs at 14.47 and picking up six wickets at 61.83. He had bowled only 923 deliveries (153.5 six-ball overs). Emergence as spin bowler 1976–77 was Yardley's breakthrough season as he became a full-time spinner. He took 2–44 and 3–40 against South Australia, also scoring a useful 35 runs. Two games later against NSW he took 6–62 then made 97 not out. For the season he scored 171 runs at 28.50 and picked up 19 wickets at 25.73. 1977–78 Test bowler In 1977–78 the Australian Test team had lost a number of its leading players to World Series Cricket. Tony Mann was tried as a spinner but was dropped after four Tests. Yardley had a strong domestic season. He scored 51 in 65 minutes in a game against South Australia, then took 7–44. This saw him leap into contention for the spinner's spot for the fifth Test, the other contenders being Jim Higgs and Graham Whyte. Yardley ended up being selected for both the fifth Test against India and the tour of West Indies. Yardley's Test debut was promising.