‘I still have 100% passion’: England’s evergreen Rashid is not finished yet

After over 16 seasons since his debut, Adil Rashid could be forgiven for feeling exhausted by the international cricket treadmill. Presently touring New Zealand for his 35th global T20 event, he summarises that hectic, monotonous life when talking about the team-bonding mini‑break in Queenstown which began England’s cold-weather campaign: “Sometimes you don’t get that opportunity when you’re always on tour,” he says. “You arrive, practice, compete, and move on.”

Yet his enthusiasm is clear, not just when he discusses the near-term prospects of a team that appears to be thriving with Harry Brook and his own place in it, plus when seeing Rashid drill, perform, or spin. But while he was able to stop New Zealand in their tracks as they tried to pursue England’s historic 236 at Hagley Oval in Christchurch 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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In February, Rashid hits the age of 38, 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 longtime friend and present podcast colleague Moeen Ali, merely some months elder, stepped away from global cricket the previous year. Yet Rashid stays crucial: those four dismissals brought his yearly tally to 19, six ahead of any other England player. Just three England bowlers have claimed as many T20I wickets in one year: Graeme Swann in 2010, Sam Curran in 2022, plus Rashid in 2021, 2022, 2024 and 2025. But no plans exist for conclusion; 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. “Personally, I believe that’s the top accomplishment in any athletic field. I still have that passion there for England. In my opinion, if the enthusiasm diminishes, or something similar, that’s the moment you consider: ‘Alright, let’s seriously ponder it’. Right now, I’ve not considered other options. I hold that drive, and much cricket remains.

“I aim to belong to this side, this roster we possess today, along the forthcoming path we tread, which hopefully will be nice and I want to be part of it. Ideally, we can taste success and claim World Cups, everything excellent. And I anticipate hopefully taking part in that voyage.

“We don’t know what’s going to happen. Around the corner things can change very quickly. Life and the sport are immensely volatile. 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 numerous aspects, now is not the period to ponder finishes, but more of origins: a fresh team with a new captain, a new coach and new horizons. “We have begun that voyage,” Rashid says. “Several new players are present. Certain individuals have left, others have arrived, and that’s just part of the cycle. However, we hold expertise, we contain new blood, we’ve got world‑class players, we employ Brendon McCullum, a superb mentor, and everybody’s buying in to what we’re trying to achieve. Yes, there’s going to be hiccups along the way, that’s part and parcel of the game, but we are undoubtedly concentrated and fully attentive, for all future challenges.”

The wish to arrange that Queenstown visit, and the appointment of previous All Blacks mindset trainer Gilbert Enoka, suggests there is a particular focus on creating something more from this group of players than just an XI. and Rashid believes this is a particular strength of McCullum’s.

“We sense we are a cohesive group,” 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 wonderful attribute, all members support one another and that’s the environment that Baz and we are trying to create, and we have created. And hopefully we can, regardless of whether we have a good day or a bad day.

“Baz is quite calm, easygoing, but he is sharp in his mentoring role, he’s on it in that sense. And he wants to create that environment. 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. A lot of credit goes to Baz for creating that environment, and hopefully we can carry that on for a lot longer.”