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Following over 16 seasons since his debut, Adil Rashid could be forgiven for tiring of the international cricket treadmill. Currently in New Zealand for his 35th T20 international competition, he describes that hectic, monotonous life as he mentions the team-bonding mini‑break in Queenstown with which England started their winter: “Sometimes you don’t get that opportunity when you’re always on tour,” he remarks. “Touch down, drill, perform, and journey.”

Yet his enthusiasm is clear, not just when he discusses the immediate future of a side that seems to be flourishing with Harry Brook and his personal role within it, plus when seeing Rashid drill, perform, or spin. But while he was able to stop New Zealand in their tracks as they attempted to chase down England’s record‑breaking 236 at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval on Monday night, with his four dismissals covering four of their leading five run-getters, he cannot do anything to stop time.

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In February, Rashid hits the age of 38, halfway into the T20 World Cup. Once the following 50-over World Cup is held in late 2027 he’ll be close to 40. His longtime friend and present podcast colleague Moeen Ali, only a few months older than him, ended his international cricket career last year. But Rashid remains integral: that four-wicket performance raised his annual count to 19, half a dozen beyond another English bowler. Just three England bowlers have claimed as many T20I wickets in one 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 attention stays on defeating rivals, not closing his career.

“Totally, I retain the appetite, the craving to feature for England and symbolize my nation,” Rashid declares. “Personally, I believe that’s the top accomplishment in any athletic field. I continue to hold that zeal for England. I think that when the passion does die down, or whatever it is, that’s the moment you consider: ‘Alright, let’s seriously ponder it’. At the moment I haven’t really thought of anything else. I possess that passion, with plenty of cricket ahead.

“I aim to belong to this side, this roster we possess today, along the forthcoming path we tread, which should be pleasant and I wish to participate. With luck, we can achieve victories and secure World Cups, all the positive outcomes. And I anticipate hopefully taking part in that voyage.

“We cannot predict future events. Around the corner things can change very quickly. Existence and cricket are highly uncertain. I prefer to remain in the moment – one match at a time, one stage 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 rather of beginnings: a renewed side with a changed leader, a changed mentor and new vistas. “We have begun that voyage,” Rashid notes. “A handful of fresh members exist. Certain individuals have left, others have arrived, and that’s simply part of the rotation. However, we hold expertise, we contain new blood, we feature top-tier cricketers, we have Brendon McCullum, an excellent coach, and each person supports our objectives. Certainly, there will be obstacles during the journey, that’s typical in cricket, but we’re definitely focused and really on the ball, for all future challenges.”

The wish to arrange that Queenstown visit, and the hiring of ex-All Blacks mental 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 feel like a unit,” 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 attempt to ensure we adhere to our principles thus. 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 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 sharp in his mentoring role, he’s on it in that sense. And he desires to foster that setting. Certainly, we are at ease, we are cool, 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 ideally, we can sustain that for an extended period.”