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Following 16 years since his debut, Adil Rashid could be forgiven for growing weary of the non-stop cricket circuit. Now in New Zealand for his 35th global T20 event, he describes that hectic, monotonous life when talking about the squad-uniting short trip in Queenstown that launched England’s winter tour: “Sometimes you don’t get that opportunity when you’re always on tour,” he says. “Touch down, drill, perform, and journey.”

However, his passion is obvious, not just when he discusses the near-term prospects of a side that seems to be flourishing with Harry Brook and his own place in it, but also when watching Rashid train, play or bowl. 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, he cannot do anything to stop 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 close pal and current podcast partner Moeen Ali, merely some months elder, stepped away from global cricket the previous year. But Rashid remains integral: those four wickets took him to 19 so far this year, six more than any other Englishman. Just three England bowlers have claimed as many T20I wickets in one year: Swann in 2010, Curran in 2022, and Rashid across 2021, 2022, 2024 and 2025. But there are still no thoughts of the end; 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 declares. “From my view, that’s the greatest success in all sports. I continue to hold that zeal 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, along the forthcoming path we tread, which should be pleasant and I wish to participate. 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 permit matters to evolve, watch where the game and life guide me.”

In many ways this is no time to be thinking of endings, but more of origins: a renewed side with a changed leader, a changed mentor and new vistas. “We’re on that journey,” Rashid says. “Several new players are present. Some have departed, some have joined, and that’s merely part of the process. But we’ve got experience, we’ve got youth, we feature top-tier cricketers, we employ Brendon McCullum, a superb mentor, and each person supports our objectives. Yes, there’s going to be hiccups along the way, that’s typical in cricket, but we’re definitely focused and really on the ball, for whatever lies ahead.”

The desire to schedule that Queenstown trip, 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 says. “We enjoy a family-like setting, supporting one another irrespective of performance, you have a good day or a bad day. 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 environment that Baz and we are trying to create, and we have created. And ideally, we shall, irrespective of performance outcomes.

“Baz is quite calm, easygoing, but he is sharp in his mentoring role, he’s on it in that sense. And he aims to generate that climate. 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. A lot of credit goes to Baz for creating that environment, and with hope, we can continue that for much more time.”