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Following a decade and a half since his debut, Adil Rashid would be justified in growing weary of the non-stop cricket circuit. Currently in New Zealand for his 35th T20 international competition, he outlines that frantic, repetitive schedule as he mentions the group-connecting brief holiday in Queenstown which began England’s cold-weather campaign: “Sometimes you don’t get that opportunity when you’re always on tour,” he remarks. “You arrive, practice, compete, and move on.”

Yet his enthusiasm is clear, not just when he discusses the near-term prospects of a side that seems to be flourishing under Harry Brook and his own place in it, and also when observing Rashid practice, compete, or deliver. Yet while he succeeded in curbing New Zealand’s charge as they tried to pursue England’s historic 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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In February, Rashid hits the age of 38, midway through the T20 World Cup. By the time the next one‑day international version is played towards the end of 2027 he’ll be close to 40. His close pal and current podcast partner Moeen Ali, just a few months his senior, retired from international cricket last year. However, Rashid continues essential: those four wickets took him to 19 so far this year, six ahead of any other England player. Merely three English cricketers have achieved such T20 international wickets in a single year: Graeme Swann in 2010, Sam Curran in 2022, and Rashid in 2021, 2022, 2024 and now 2025. Yet there are no considerations of retirement; his focus remains on bringing down opponents, not curtains.

“One hundred per cent I’ve still got the hunger, the eagerness to compete for England and stand for my country,” Rashid declares. “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 hold that drive, and much cricket remains.

“I desire to join this team, this group we have currently, 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 await hopefully joining that expedition.

“We are unaware of what will occur. Just ahead, situations can shift rapidly. 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.”

From several perspectives, this isn’t the moment to consider conclusions, but instead of starts: a novel squad with a different skipper, a different coach and fresh prospects. “We’re on that journey,” Rashid says. “There are a few new faces. Some have gone out, some have come in, and that’s merely part of the process. But we’ve got experience, we’ve got youth, we include elite performers, 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 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 recruitment of the former All Blacks mental skills coach Gilbert Enoka, suggests there is a particular focus on creating something more from this group of players than just an XI. and Rashid thinks this is a unique talent of McCullum’s.

“We sense we are a cohesive group,” he conveys. “We feel like a family kind of environment, encouraging each other no matter success or failure, whether your day is positive or negative. We strive to confirm we follow our ethics in that manner. Let’s guarantee we stay together, that solidarity we possess, that fellowship.

“It’s a nice thing to have, everybody’s got each other’s backs and that’s the environment that Baz and we are trying to create, and we have created. And with luck, we will, no matter if our day is successful or not.

“Baz is quite calm, easygoing, but he is sharp in his mentoring role, he is diligent in that regard. And he aims to generate that climate. Indeed, we are tranquil, we are serene, but we ensure that once we enter the field we are concentrated and we are competing fully. A lot of credit goes to Baz for creating that environment, and ideally, we can sustain that for an extended period.”