Cricket: Bopara to play for Auckland

England reject Ravi Bopara has been picked up by Auckland for the domestic cricket season.

Unlike most overseas professionals signed by other teams, Bopara will play all three forms of the game for his new province.

The 24-year-old Essex batsman will be available for the opening four matches in the national four-day competition, starting next week, ahead of the one-day and Twenty20 competitions.

Bopara arrives in Auckland this week on a mission to regain his spot in the England team.

"We had only been looking for someone for the Twenty20 but he's very keen to come out for a longer period," Auckland chief executive Andrew Eade told the New Zealand Herald newspaper.

Bopara appeared set for a lengthy spell in the England squad after hitting centuries in three successive test appearances against the West Indies this year.

But he then lost his form during the Ashes series against Australia, was dropped for the fifth and final test, and has been omitted from England's test and one-day squads to tour South Africa.

Eade said Bopara initiated the idea of coming out as soon as possible.

"He is keen to come and contribute over a longer period for us, which is great," Eade said.

"He has exactly the right skill set we want, a hard-hitting batsman with a bit of bowling to back that up."

Bopara has played 10 tests, averaging 33.46, and 50 one-day internationals, including England's most recent against New Zealand, at the Champions Trophy in South Africa in September.

- NZPA