Shane Warne's English county club, Hampshire, expects the Australian legspinner to continue playing in the side after news of his imminent retirement from international cricket.

Warne, the world's leading Test wicket-taker, is expected to confirm on Thursday he will retire after the fifth Ashes Test against England in Sydney next month.

Paceman Glenn McGrath is also reportedly ready to retire.

A Hampshire spokesman said the club was waiting to hear what Warne announces.

"At the moment, Shane is under contract still with us for a further two years, potentially to the end of September 2008," the spokesman told AAP.

"We would obviously look forward to welcoming him back as captain at Hampshire, where he has been an inspirational leader since he joined the club."

The club's chairman, Rod Bransgrove is in Australia and in regular contact with Warne.

Warne's Hampshire teammate Shaun Udal said he had not heard from the Australian great but hoped his retirement would only be from the international game.

"If this is true, I would love to see him finish the next two or three years with Hampshire," Udal told the BBC website.

"But I'm sure Warnie will go out in his own inimitable style."

Former England captain Nasser Hussain said Test cricket would lose its greatest ever player with Warne's swansong.

"For me, he was the reason you played cricket," Hussain told Sky Sports News.

"To be a in a Test against him, you knew you were in a battle with Warne, verbally, physically, mentally and technically."

Hussain, who is now a commentator, said it didn't come as a shock that Warne and McGrath were poised to call it a day.

"I'm not that surprised to be honest, because Glenn McGrath in particular, at times looked a little flat, his body was starting to ache and he looked stiff," Hussain said.

"Shane said to me in the middle of the last Test, he'd bowled a lot of overs in his career and was only one injury away from retiring - so maybe something popped up, some sort of niggle.

"They are two absolutely great cricketers and a lot of people around our commentary box, Michael Atherton, Ian Botham and David Lloyd, have all said it would be a shame if two great cricketers went on just that little bit too long."

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