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

More than over 16 seasons since his debut, Adil Rashid might be excused for tiring of the global cricket grind. Currently in New Zealand for his 35th international T20 series or tournament, he describes that busy, routine existence as he mentions the squad-uniting short trip in Queenstown which began England’s cold-weather campaign: “Occasionally, such chances are rare when constantly traveling,” he states. “You arrive, practice, compete, and move on.”

Yet his enthusiasm is clear, not just when he discusses the upcoming path 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 the Hagley Oval ground in Christchurch on Monday night, with his four dismissals covering four of their leading five run-getters, there is nothing he can do to halt time.

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Rashid reaches 38 years old in February, halfway into 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, just a few months his senior, retired from international cricket last year. Yet Rashid stays crucial: 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. But no plans exist for conclusion; his attention stays on defeating rivals, not closing his career.

“One hundred per cent I’ve still got the hunger, the eagerness to compete for England and stand for my country,” Rashid declares. “As an individual, I think that’s the biggest achievement in any sport. That fervor for England persists within me. 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 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 anticipate hopefully taking part in that voyage.

“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 allow events to develop, observe where cricket and existence lead me.”

In numerous aspects, now is not the period to ponder finishes, but more of origins: a novel squad with a different skipper, a different coach and fresh prospects. “We are embarked on that path,” Rashid says. “There are a few new faces. Some have gone out, some have come in, and that’s simply part of the rotation. However, we hold expertise, we contain new blood, we feature top-tier cricketers, we employ Brendon McCullum, a superb mentor, and everybody’s buying in to what we’re trying to achieve. Certainly, there will be obstacles during the journey, that’s inherent to the sport, but we are undoubtedly concentrated and fully attentive, for all future challenges.”

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 believes this is a particular strength of McCullum’s.

“We perceive ourselves as a unified entity,” he conveys. “We feel like a family kind of environment, backing each other regardless of whether you perform or don’t perform, whether your day is positive or negative. We strive to confirm we follow our ethics in that manner. Let’s make sure we stick together, that unity we have, that brotherhood.

“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 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 is diligent in that regard. And he desires to foster that setting. Yes, we are relaxed, we are chilled, but we ensure that once we enter the field we are concentrated and we are competing fully. Much praise belongs to Baz for forming that atmosphere, and with hope, we can continue that for much more time.”