Darling is the great-nephew of Joe Darling, and learnt to play cricket at his family's home at Ramco on the Murray River. He started playing for the Salisbury Cricket Club in the Adelaide district competition in 1970–71.

He was picked for South Australia Colts in 1974–75, scoring 67 against Victoria, 105 against Victoria, 48 against the West Indies and 45 against WA.

1975–76: First Class Debut

Darling started his first-class career in 1975–76 with South Australia. He made his debut against Queensland, batting at number 6, being run out for 5. (Darling would later become notorious for being involved in run outs throughout his career.) He then made 26 and 48 against Victoria, helping South Australia win the game. He scored 2 against the touring West Indians. A second innings of 29 helped guide South Australia to victory against Western Australia. He also made 2 and 32 against WA, 1 and 41 against Victoria and 12 against NSW. South Australia won the Sheffield Shield that year.

1976–77

Darling's Sheffield Shield scores for the 1976–77 season were 2 and 14, 0 and 25, 3 and 64. He made his initial first class century with 107 against Victoria. Then made 1 and 39, 22 and 4 and 7.

Darling made his one-day debut in the Gillette Cup quarter finals but only scored one.

1977–78: Test Player

Darling was given his chance in the Australian Test team through the defection of several players to World Series Cricket in 1977.

At the beginning of the 1977/78 season he was 12th man against the Indian team. He got back the team and scored runs, playing particularly well against Western Australia, making 45 and 100.

He made 101 against Tasmania in a one-day game, which saw him come into discussions about possibly opening for Australia. His other knocks were 0 and 43 against Victoria and 39 and 15 against WA.

Australia had struggled to find a consistent opening partner during the first four tests. Darling was selected for the fifth test and subsequent tour of the West Indies. Also selected was Graeme Wood and it was thought these two could make an ideal combination, although Wood was only 21 and Daring just 20.

Test Debut

Australia's gamble on Wood and Darling made dividends with the two of them putting on 89 for the first wicket, Australia's best opening partnership of the series. Darling made 65. He followed his up with 56 in the second innings, helping Australia win the game.

West Indies Tour

Darling began the West Indies tour well, scoring 26 and 35 against Leeward Islands then 105 and 43 against Trinidad and Tobago.