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After 16 years after his initial cap, Adil Rashid would be justified in tiring of the non-stop cricket circuit. Presently touring New Zealand for his 35th global T20 event, he summarises that hectic, monotonous life when talking about the squad-uniting short trip in Queenstown with which England started their winter: “At times, these moments are scarce during endless tours,” he says. “You arrive, practice, compete, and move on.”

Yet his enthusiasm is clear, not merely when he reflects on the immediate future of a squad that looks to be blooming under Harry Brook and his own place in it, and also when observing Rashid practice, compete, or deliver. Although he managed to halt New Zealand’s progress as they attempted to chase down England’s record‑breaking 236 at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval on Monday night, as his four-wicket spell claimed almost all of their top five batsmen, no action can prevent the passage of time.

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Rashid will turn 38 in February, halfway into the T20 World Cup. When the next ODI World Cup occurs near the end of 2027 he’ll be close to 40. His great friend and now podcast co‑host Moeen Ali, merely some months elder, retired from international cricket last year. But Rashid remains integral: those four dismissals brought his yearly tally to 19, six ahead of any other England player. Merely three English cricketers have achieved such T20 international wickets in a single year: Swann in 2010, Curran in 2022, and Rashid across 2021, 2022, 2024 and 2025. Yet there are no considerations of retirement; his attention stays on defeating rivals, not closing his career.

“One hundred per cent I’ve still got the hunger, the craving to feature for England and symbolize my nation,” Rashid affirms. “From my view, that’s the greatest success in all sports. I still have that passion there for England. In my opinion, if the enthusiasm diminishes, or something similar, that’s when you think: ‘OK, right, let’s have a real think about it’. Currently, I haven’t contemplated anything different. I’ve got that passion, there’s a lot of cricket to be played.

“I want to be part of this team, this squad we’ve got now, during the upcoming adventure we face, which hopefully will be nice and I want to be part of it. Hopefully we can experience some wins and win World Cups, all the good stuff. And I anticipate hopefully taking part in that voyage.

“We cannot predict future events. Nearby, circumstances can alter swiftly. It’s very unpredictable, life and cricket. I always like to stay present – a game at a time, a step at a time – and let things unfold, see where cricket and life takes me.”

In many ways this is no time to be thinking of endings, but more of origins: a novel squad with a different skipper, a different coach and fresh prospects. “We have begun that voyage,” Rashid comments. “There are a few new faces. Some have gone out, some have come in, and that’s just part of the cycle. Yet we possess know-how, we have young talent, we’ve got world‑class players, we’ve got Brendon McCullum, who’s a very, very good coach, and everybody’s buying in to what we’re trying to achieve. Certainly, there will be obstacles during the journey, that’s part and parcel of the game, but we are undoubtedly concentrated and fully attentive, for whatever lies ahead.”

The aim to plan that Queenstown excursion, and the appointment of previous All Blacks mindset trainer Gilbert Enoka, implies a specific concentration on developing additional value from this squad apart from a lineup. and Rashid believes this is a particular strength of McCullum’s.

“We perceive ourselves as a unified entity,” he expresses. “We experience a familial atmosphere, encouraging each other no matter success or failure, if your outing is strong or weak. 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 nice thing to have, everybody’s got each other’s backs and that’s the culture Baz and we seek to form, and we have created. And hopefully we can, regardless of whether we have a good day or a bad day.

“Baz is very composed, laid-back, but he’s on the ball in terms of coaching, he is focused in that aspect. And he desires to foster that setting. Yes, we are relaxed, we are chilled, but we’re making sure that when we go on that pitch we’re focused and we’re going for it. Significant acknowledgment is due to Baz for building that milieu, and hopefully we can carry that on for a lot longer.”