KEY POINTS:
James Anderson might be getting some valuable match practice but Auckland will be the chief benefactor when the England test bowler leads their attack against Wellington at Eden Park's outer oval today.
"It's to benefit us, we've lost a fair few bowlers," Auckland coach Mark O'Donnell said of the news that Anderson will be joining the side.
It is believed to be the first time a member of a touring test squad has been released to play for a domestic team but O'Donnell didn't see anything unusual in an arrangement that will ensure Anderson is battle-ready should he be recalled by England.
"Why not? We are all allowed one overseas player and we haven't got one," O'Donnell said.
"It would be no different to Northern Districts using [English batsman] Andrew Strauss during the State Shield one-dayers."
New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan said NZC would prefer that Auckland used the opportunity to give one of their up-and-coming bowlers a chance.
"We understand Auckland's reasons but, from a NZC perspective, we are not overly enthusiastic. Auckland have taken a creative approach."
The Aces sit atop the ladder with four games remaining but head into the State championship's second phase without Andre Adams, Daryl Tuffey, Kyle Mills and Chris Martin.
Hence the move to recuit Anderson, which was approved by NZC yesterday.
Adams, who took 29 wickets at 8.27 in the Aces' opening four games, will be the most keenly missed of the international quartet. He and Tuffey are in India preparing for the rebel Indian Cricket League, which begins on Sunday. Mills and Martin are on test duty with the Black Caps.
Auckland's resources have been further depleted by the unavailability of Lance Shaw, who has an arm injury.
Anderson will lead the Aces' attack with left-arm opener Andy McKay. Under-19 international Greg Morgan, who scored a match-winning 83 on debut against Northern Districts in December, probably has the inside running on the third-seamer berth. O'Donnell has named a squad of 12, with left-arm seamer Michael Bates and off-spinner Gareth Hayne the other bowling options. Wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins has replaced the injured Reece Young and uncapped 19-year-old Andrew de Boorder has also been added to the squad.
Anderson would stay with Auckland for their final four matches unless he was recalled to the England team, O'Donnell said. "They have kept him here as an option for their pace attack. Obviously, it is being taken on a game-by-game basis but that is the plan, it's not just for this game but for four first-class games."
The Lancashire bowler, who has taken 62 wickets in 20 tests at an average of just under 40, wasn't Auckland's first choice. Auckland Cricket is believed to have inquired about the availability of tall right-armer Chris Tremlett before he returned to England with a shoulder injury.
Anderson took four wickets for 270 runs at 67.50 in the recent one-day series, won by New Zealand 3-1.
Wellington are second on the championship table, two points behind Auckland and six points ahead of third-placed Canterbury.
