A MAN whose name is synonymous with the Herefordshire village cricket club he served with distinction for 78 years is remembered in Wisden - the world famous cricket almanack - which is out today.

This is the most up-to-date edition of the 142 which have appeared since the almanack was first introduced: it includes full reports of England's tour of South Africa, which finished only a week before the book went to press.

But Wisden devotees know the book's real delights lurk in surprising corners - and the Herefordshire connection comes in the obituaries section. There it can be found, preceding the great Australia all-rounder Keith Miller, a tribute to Reg Michael who was secretary of Ewyas Harold CC from 1924 until 2002.

Reg, who had a long career as a cricket all-rounder and footballer, was well known throughout the Herefordshire sporting community and to readers of the Hereford Times, for which he was a village correspondent for 77 years until his death at the age of 97 in August of last year.

No doubt that helped attract the attention of Herefordshire-based Wisden editor Matthew Engel, who has produced another fact-and-feature packed edition from the grass roots of the game to the world stage.

In Wisden - famed as the independent voice of cricket since 1864 - Engel maintains a tradition of forthright comment and his criticisms include an attack on the England and Wales Cricket Board for their decision to take live cricket off terrestrial television and do an exclusive deal with Sky Sports. JF

*Wisden 2005 is on sale from today, price £36.