Wardill played two first-class cricket matches: one for Victoria in 1866, and one 20 years later for the Australians in England in 1886.

[2] Born in England, Wardill migrated to Melbourne in 1861 and worked for several years with his brother Richard at the office of the Victoria Sugar Co.

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".

[4] In his role as Melbourne Cricket Club secretary, Wardill organised and managed Australia's tours to England in 1886, 1899 and 1902.

He married once, to Elizabeth King, and had one daughter who died in infancy.