ImportMaster at 07:49, 9 April 2022

2022-04-09T07:49:27Z

New page

{{more citations needed|date=February 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2013}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2013}}
{{Infobox cricketer
| name = M.E. Pavri
| image =
| country = India
| fullname = Mehallasha Edulji Pavri
| nickname =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1866|10|10|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Navsari]], [[Gujarat]], India
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1946|4|19|1866|10|10|df=yes}}
| death_place = [[Bombay]], [[India]]
| heightft =
| heightinch =
| heightm =
| batting = Right-handed
| bowling = [[Fast bowling|Right-arm fast]]
| role = Bowler
| family =
| club1 = [[Parsees cricket team|Parsees]]
| year1 = 1892-1913
| club2 = [[Indian cricket team|All-India XI]]
| year2 = 1892
| club3 = [[Middlesex County Cricket Club|Middlesex]]
| year3 = 1893
| columns = 1
| column1 = [[First-class cricket|First-class]]
| matches1 = 26
| runs1 = 589
| bat avg1 = 15.50
| 100s/50s1 = 0/1
| top score1 = 69
| deliveries1 = 2,014
| wickets1 = 44
| bowl avg1 = 20.25
| fivefor1 = 2
| tenfor1 = 0
| best bowling1 = 6/36
| catches/stumpings1 = 19/0
| date = 5 November
| year = 2012
| source = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/32681.html Cricinfo]
}}'''Mehallasha Edulji Pavri''' (10 October 1866 – 19 April 1946 in [[Navsari]], [[Gujarat]], [[India]]<ref>Note that Navsari and Bombay and a few other centres were the main centres of population for the minor Parsi community</ref>) was an Indian [[cricket]]er born to a [[Parsis|Parsi]] family, who played 26 first-class matches between 1892 and 1913. He was India's earliest genuine fast bowlers in its pre-Test era. He was a right-handed batsman and a right-arm fast bowler. Most of his first-class cricket was for the [[Parsees cricket team|Parsees]], but he also represented an [[Indian cricket team|All-India XI]] and [[Middlesex County Cricket Club|Middlesex]] several times.

== Career ==
Pavri made his debut on the [[Parsee cricket team in England in 1888|Parsee tour to England in 1888]], gaining recognition by taking 170 wickets at an average of 11.66. The touring team had played 31 matches of which they won 8 and drew 12.

Performances in other notable matches include the Parsees vs Lord Hawke's XI in 1890 which resulted in a narrow Parsi victory. The match was considered as the Cricket Championship of India at that time, and Pavri took 2 wickets for 3 runs in 3 overs and 7/34 in 13.2 overs. The Parsis won match by 4 wickets.<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/134/134873.html Parsees vs GF Vernon's XI] CricketArchive.com. Retrieved 5 November 2012</ref> In another match against Lord Hawke's XI and in a 109-run Parsi win, he took figures of 2/18 and 6/36.<ref>[http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/3/3902.html Parsees vs Lord Hawke's XI] CricketArchive.com. Retrieved 5 November 2012</ref> He also represented an All-India XI against Lord Hawke's XI in 1892.

Pavri was a consistent and prolific wicket-taking attacking bowler, and a decent bat who played in the middle order and had a top first-class score of 69. He was successful in the early years of the Bombay Pentagular Tournament.

Outside cricket, Pavri was a doctor who had studied medicine in [[London]]. After retirement from cricket, he not only worked as a doctor but also wrote a book on Indian cricket, ''Parsi Cricket'' (1901) which analysed almost every important aspect of Indian cricket at that time with many suggested improvements.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-05-01 |title=Specials – M.E. Pavri: The first great Indian cricketer |url=https://thecricketcauldron.com/2015/05/01/m-e-pavri-the-first-great-indian-cricketer/ |access-date=2022-04-09 |website=The Cricket Cauldron |language=en-GB}}</ref>

== In popular culture ==
The 2022 web series ''[[Rocket Boys (web series)|Rocket Boys]]'' starred Basant Mody as M. E. Pavri in a brief appearance.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rocket Boys Review: The Lives And Times Of Homi Bhabha And Vikram Sarabhai |url=https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/rocket-boys-review-the-lives-and-times-of-homi-bhabha-and-vikram-sarabhai-3-5-2748320 |access-date=2022-04-09 |website=NDTV.com}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*[http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/32681.html Cricinfo Profile - M.E. Pavri]
*[http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/34/34191/34191.html CricketArchive Profile - M.E. Pavri]
*[https://thecricketcauldron.com/2015/05/01/m-e-pavri-the-first-great-indian-cricketer/ M.E PAVRI – THE FIRST GREAT INDIAN CRICKETER]
*[https://www.cricketcountry.com/articles/1892-93-parsees-beat-europeans-to-win-first-ever-presidency-cup-346741 1892-93: Parsees beat Europeans to win first ever Presidency Cup]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pavri, M.E.}}
[[Category:1866 births]]
[[Category:1946 deaths]]
[[Category:Parsees cricketers]]
[[Category:Indian cricketers]]
[[Category:Middlesex cricketers]]

M. E. Pavri - Revision history

ImportMaster at 07:49, 9 April 2022