[2] Nonetheless, Jarvis had a long and successful career as the wicket-keeper for South Australia, played 11 Tests for Australia, and toured England with the Australians in 1880, 1886, 1888 and 1893.

[3] When Blackham was injured and unable to play during the tour of New Zealand in 1886–87, Jarvis kept wicket.

The New Zealand cricket historian Tom Reese wrote in 1927 that his keeping was "the chief feature of the tour ... absolutely brilliant throughout, and it is generally considered that the best wicket-keeping ever seen in New Zealand was displayed by Jarvis on this tour".

[5] His South Australian teammate George Giffen praised Jarvis's ability as a wicket-keeper, pointing out that after years of keeping in the flimsy gloves of the era, Jarvis's hands had "not a single unsound finger", unlike many wicket-keepers then and now.

[5] Jarvis died in hospital in Adelaide after a long illness, aged 73.