Photo Credit: Cricket NSW
New South Wales stalwart Trent Copeland has announced that this week’s Marsh Sheffield Shield match in Albury marked his final appearance for the Blues, calling time on a sparkling first-class career.
With a career spanning Australia, NSW and Northamptonshire, Copeland finishes his time on-field with 410 first-class wickets from 112 appearances.
One of the state’s most dedicated and consistent performers across the last decade, the right-arm quick currently sits third on the all-time list of Shield wicket-takers for NSW (with 344 wickets) behind only Geoff Lawson (367) and Greg Matthews (363).
Recognised as one of the games most-respected, the 36-year-old enjoyed ultimate team success, part of the Blues Sheffield Shield winning side in 2013-14 and the One-Day Cup victory in 2016-17.
In addition to his 410 FC wickets, Copeland notched 2163 runs including a high score of 106 against Tasmania in the 2012-13 season.
Originally from Bathurst, the paceman made his first-class debut in 2010, taking an incredible 8-92 in his first match – the second-best figures by a NSW debutant ever. His debut season continued on a high note, taking 35 wickets across his first summer.
Copeland had a standout season for NSW across the 2018-19 summer, picking up 52 wickets, becoming just one of only ten players to take more than 50 wickets in a single Sheffield Shield season.
In addition to his first-class records, he adds 21 List A matches with 25 wickets and three Test appearances (and six scalps) to an overflowing list of achievements.
Speaking post his final Sheffield Shield appearance, the Blues great shared what it meant to represent his home state.
“I got emotional [on Thursday] holding my baggy blue in my hands and talking about firstly what it meant to earn that cap, but to have gone on to play one game, let alone ninety.
“There’s trials and tribulations you go through as an athlete with your teammates, and there’s success, failure, heartache along the way, but it just means so much to me.
“I’m incredibly proud of what I’ve achieved but also what my family, certainly my wife and kids have allowed me to achieve through their support. I’m very lucky.”
