[1] Davis played for the New South Wales XV against the Australians in 1878-79 and scored 32 in an innings victory for the New South Wales team,[2] the Sydney Morning Herald recording that Davis "proved that the confidence placed in his powers as a batsman was justified".

[3] He subsequently played twenty first-class matches for New South Wales between 1879–80 and 1893–94.

[4] A batsman and occasional wicket-keeper, Joe Davis' highest first-class score was for New South Wales against Ivo Bligh's XI in 1882–83, when, opening the batting, he scored 85 in the second innings out of a team total of 165.

[5] He dropped out of the New South Wales team for interstate matches after the 1887–88 season, but he returned to captain the team on tours of New Zealand, in 1889–90[6] and 1893–94,[7] both tours having been organised and managed by Davis' older brother, Coleman (1857–1922).

[12] He collapsed while playing bowls in May 1911 and died at home early the next morning, aged 52.