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After over 16 seasons after his initial cap, Adil Rashid could be forgiven for feeling exhausted by the global cricket grind. Presently touring New Zealand for his 35th T20 international competition, he summarises that hectic, monotonous life as he mentions the squad-uniting short trip in Queenstown that launched England’s winter tour: “Occasionally, such chances are rare when constantly traveling,” he remarks. “You land, you train, you play and you travel.”

But his zeal is evident, not just when he discusses the immediate future of a side that seems to be flourishing guided by Harry Brook and his own place in it, plus when seeing Rashid drill, perform, or spin. Although he managed to halt New Zealand’s progress as they aimed to overhaul England’s monumental 236 at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval on Monday night, when his four‑wicket haul included all but one of their five highest scorers, no action can prevent the passage of time.

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Rashid will turn 38 in February, midway through the T20 World Cup. When the next ODI World Cup occurs near the end of 2027 he will be nearly 40. His great friend and now podcast co‑host Moeen Ali, merely some months elder, ended his international cricket career last year. Yet Rashid stays crucial: those four dismissals brought his yearly tally to 19, half a dozen beyond another English bowler. Only three English bowlers have taken so many T20 international wickets in a calendar year: Graeme Swann in 2010, Sam Curran in 2022, and Rashid in 2021, 2022, 2024 and now 2025. But there are still no thoughts of the end; his concentration is on overcoming foes, not ending his journey.

“Absolutely, I maintain the desire, the eagerness to compete for England and stand for my country,” Rashid says. “As an individual, I think that’s the biggest achievement in any sport. That fervor for England persists within me. I feel that once the passion fades, or whatever occurs, that’s when you think: ‘OK, right, let’s have a real think about it’. Currently, I haven’t contemplated anything different. I hold that drive, and much cricket remains.

“I aim to belong to this side, this roster we possess today, during the upcoming adventure we face, which ought to be rewarding and I intend to contribute. Ideally, we can taste success and claim World Cups, everything excellent. And I’m looking forward to hopefully participating in that journey.

“We cannot predict future events. Just ahead, situations can shift rapidly. Life and the sport are immensely volatile. I always like to stay present – a game at a time, a step at a time – and allow events to develop, observe where cricket and existence lead me.”

In many ways this is no time to be thinking of endings, but rather of beginnings: a novel squad with a different skipper, a different coach and fresh prospects. “We are embarked on that path,” Rashid notes. “Several new players are present. Certain individuals have left, others have arrived, and that’s merely part of the process. However, we hold expertise, we contain new blood, we feature top-tier cricketers, we’ve got Brendon McCullum, who’s a very, very good coach, and each person supports our objectives. Yes, there’s going to be hiccups along the way, that’s typical in cricket, but we are undoubtedly concentrated and fully attentive, for whatever lies ahead.”

The aim to plan that Queenstown excursion, and the hiring of ex-All Blacks mental coach Gilbert Enoka, indicates a special emphasis on building extra from this team beyond a playing eleven. and Rashid believes this is a particular strength of McCullum’s.

“We perceive ourselves as a unified entity,” he says. “We feel like a family kind of environment, supporting one another irrespective of performance, whether your day is positive or negative. We’re trying to make sure we stick to our morals in that way. Let’s ensure we remain united, that cohesion we share, that camaraderie.

“It’s a great quality, each person defends their teammates and that’s the atmosphere Baz and we aim to establish, and we have developed. And hopefully we can, regardless of whether we have a good day or a bad day.

“Baz is quite calm, easygoing, but he is attentive regarding coaching, he’s on it in that sense. And he desires to foster that setting. Certainly, we are at ease, we are cool, but we ensure that once we enter the field we are concentrated and we are competing fully. Significant acknowledgment is due to Baz for building that milieu, and with hope, we can continue that for much more time.”