Former Test seamer Trent Copeland has announced his retirement from cricket at age 36, finishing as NSW's most prolific Sheffield Shield wicket-taker this century.

Copeland, who took a wicket with his second ball in Test cricket in 2011, told NSW teammates of his decision before last week's Sheffield Shield match in Albury.

An old-school medium-pace bowler, Copeland burst onto the scene in his early summers in the Sheffield Shield and was the competition's equal-leading wicket-taker in 2010-11.

It earned him a Test debut for Australia along with Nathan Lyon in Sri Lanka in 2011, where he dismissed Tillakaratne Dilshan second ball in Galle as one of six wickets for the series.

While he never returned to the Australian team after the tour, he has finished his career as NSW's third-highest wicket-taker in Sheffield Shield cricket with 344 at an average of 26.3.

Only Geoff Lawson (367) and Greg Matthews (363) sit above Copeland on the all-time list for the Blues.

"I just wanted to let everyone know how special this thing is to me," Copeland told teammates while holding his Baggy Blue hat last week in Albury.

"I hope I have done this cap proud. In my wildest dreams I never thought I would play one game let alone play for 14 years.

"I am incredibly thankful for all your mateship and what this cap has meant for me along the way.

"It's likely to be my last game, and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. I am a competitive bastard and that's not going to change."

Copeland has moved into the media in recent years while juggling playing duties, emerging as one of the game's best analysts.

NSW face South Australia in Adelaide later this month, needing a victory to avoid their first winless Sheffield Shield season since 1938-39.