Copeland proud of lasting legacy as milestone looms

As proud as Trent Copeland is about another impending milestone in a first-class career he could never have envisaged, the stalwart paceman places an even higher value on the legacy he intends to leave with New South Wales.

Not that he's going anywhere anytime soon.

Copeland's dismissal of Matthew Renshaw on day three of the Marsh Sheffield Shield final saw him equal Stuart MacGill on Blues' all-time leading Shield wicket taking list with 328 victims.

Having begun his Premier Cricket career as a wicketkeeper-batter, the 35-year-old remarkably now has two just bowlers ahead of him on that list; Geoff Lawson (367 Shield wickets for NSW) and Greg Matthews (363).

Despite making a successful initial foray into an analyst role with Channel Seven's commentary team in recent years, Copeland has no plans to call quits on his first-class career and recently signed a one-year contract extension with NSW for the 2021-22 season. 

Which means it is not out of the question the Bathurst product could not only jump above MacGill next summer, but also pass both Lawson and Matthews to finish his career as the most prolific NSW bowler ever.

"I'm amazed where that sits," Copeland, who played three Tests for Australia in 2011, told cricket.com.au this week. "I don't think I'll be able to fully appreciate it until I retire.

"I got a message from 'Stuey' (MacGill) not long ago about that exact fact. Geoff Lawson and 'Mo' Matthews are the two guys in front of that – I'm very lucky that those guys are all good mates and we're part of the same Baggy Blue club that I'm lucky to be part of.

"To be mentioned in the same breath as those guys is a bit ridiculous. I was a wicketkeeper-batter until I was 20, from the country.

"I never thought I'd get here."

While the entire Blues attack struggled to make regular inroads against a Marnus Labuschagne-led Bulls top-order during the Marsh Sheffield Shield final this week, Copeland again rarely deviated from the line and length that has made him a standout bowler in domestic cricket.

"He's just so consistent," Blues skipper Kurtis Patterson said ahead of the final. "He just does his job game in game out.

"He's always the one pushing into the wind when we've got Josh Hazelwood and Mitchell Starc at the other end. He never complains and he's also furious when you take him off, even if he's bowled a 12-over spell.

"He loves the contest, he loves bowling. His results speak for themselves, that's an incredible achievement (to equal MacGill)."

Of greater importance to Copeland than personal landmarks is ensuring the emerging crop of NSW fast bowlers are ready to step into his shoes once he does decide to hang them up.

The depth of the Blues pace stocks has been on show this week, with the availability of Starc, Hazlewood and Sean Abbott sidelining Harry Conway, who played for Australia A earlier in the summer.

Copeland has taken particular pride in Abbott's ascension to the fringes of the Test side, while he believes Conway and Liam Hatcher will soon "no doubt be pushing on my door" for a spot next season.

For now, though, Copeland says he is bowling as well as ever.

"I take a great deal of pride in the Blues and my role in the bowling group and leaving a legacy by how we go about things and the readiness of the next crop (of bowlers) to take over," he said.

"It's not just about me, it's about still winning games and significantly contributing to that. If that was to change, I'd be looking at myself hard in the mirror because I don't want to hold anyone back.

"The biggest satisfaction I've got over the three to five years has been off myself and been on upskilling my peers.

"But at the moment, my body is as good as it's ever been, and I think genuinely the ball and the plans I've worked towards are being executed as well as I've ever done.

"I don't want to put a timeframe on it (retirement) … Once I'm comfortable and ready for those guys to take over and that I'm content with what I've produced, then I'll be ready to hang them up."

Most Sheffield Shield wickets for NSW

367 – Geoff Lawson

363 – Greg Matthews

328* – Trent Copeland

328 – Stuart MacGill

290 – Doug Bollinger