M. E. Pavri
Mehallasha Edulji Pavri was an Indian cricketer born to a 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 All-India XI and 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. In another match against Lord Hawke's XI and in a 109-run Parsi win, he took figures of 2/18 and 6/36. 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 Pentangular 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 which analysed almost every important aspect of Indian cricket at that time with many suggested improvements.