Former Australian batting star Mark Waugh has drawn the curtain on his distinguished cricketing career, declaring now was the right time to go after almost 20 years of first class service.

At the SCG, the venue for many of his most memorable innings, 38-year-old Waugh announced he would retire from first class cricket at the end of this season.

Mark and his twin brother and former Australian captain Steve will each make their final first class appearance for NSW in a Pura Cup match against Queensland at the SCG starting on March 4.

Waugh has played 366 first class matches since making his debut for NSW against Tasmania in Hobart in the 1985-86 season.

The elegant right-hander averages 52.07 in first class competition in which he also took 450 catches and 208 wickets at 40.76.

A distinguished international career ended last season with Waugh amassing 8,029 runs from 128 Tests at an average of 41.82 and 8,500 limited-overs international runs from 244 matches at an average of 39.35.

"Pretty much at the start of the year I thought this would be my last season unless a miracle happened and I made 10 centuries and got younger," Waugh said at the SCG.

"But I'm getting older and I think the time is right to go now.

"There's some good younger players in the team, so I think it's time for them to step up and myself and Stephen to walk away."

He said his career highlights included his first Test against England in 1990-91, in which he scored 138 at Adelaide Oval, an unbeaten partnership of 464 against WA in Perth the same season when he made his highest score of 229, and the Blues' domestic trophy winning double last summer.

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