Benjamin Wardill
Benjamin Wardill, often referred to as Major Wardill, was an Australian cricketer and cricket administrator. Wardill played two first-class cricket matches for Victoria in 1866. His brother Richard also played cricket for Victoria.
Wardill was later secretary of Melbourne Cricket Club from 1876 to 1911. In his time the membership of the club increased from 572 to 5353. A biographer said that "Wardill was largely successful in his aim to make the Melbourne Cricket Club the Australian counterpart of the famous Marylebone Cricket Club in England". His salary was raised to 700 pounds per annum in 1907, having been 600 pounds per annum for the previous 16 years.
In his role as MCC secretary Wardill organised and managed the 1886 tour of England by the Australian cricket team and managed the 1899 tour and 1902 Australian cricket team tours of England.
Wardill died of heart disease in 1917. He married once, to Elizabeth King, and had one daughter who died in infancy.
