Joe Darling never seemed out of form, always capable of scoring runs, he scored 19 first class centuries and 3 Test centuries during his career. He was a fine and attractive left-handed batsman who more often than not opened the innings. Darling was able to switch from attack to defence with the utmost ease and his preferred fielding position was at mid-off. However he made his greatest impact in cricket as a captain and leader. Touring England in 1896, 1899, 1902 and 1905, he inspired his team to win the Ashes in 1899 and 1902 although he was captain in the last three tours.

His highest first class score was 210, scored against Queensland in brisbane in 1898/9. His best series came in 1897/8 when he made three centuries, scoring 101 in the first at Sydney, 178 in the second at Adelaide and in the fifth Test in Sydney he scored 160. He was awarded a CBE for public services in 1938 and died in Tasmania in 1946, where he had settled after his cricketing career had ended