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More than 16 years after his initial cap, England’s seasoned bowler could be forgiven for tiring of the non-stop cricket circuit. Presently touring New Zealand for his 35th global T20 event, he outlines that frantic, repetitive schedule while discussing the group-connecting brief holiday in Queenstown which began England’s cold-weather campaign: “Occasionally, such chances are rare when constantly traveling,” he states. “You land, you train, you play and you travel.”

However, his passion is obvious, not merely when he reflects on the upcoming path of a team that appears to be thriving guided by Harry Brook and his personal role within it, plus when seeing Rashid drill, perform, or spin. Yet while he succeeded in curbing New Zealand’s charge as they aimed to overhaul England’s monumental 236 at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval on Monday night, when his four‑wicket haul included all but one of their five highest scorers, there is nothing he can do to halt time.

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Rashid will turn 38 in February, midway through the T20 World Cup. By the time the next one‑day international version is played towards the end of 2027 he will be nearly 40. His great friend and now podcast co‑host Moeen Ali, only a few months older than him, stepped away from global cricket the previous year. But Rashid remains integral: that four-wicket performance raised his annual count to 19, six more than any other Englishman. Only three English bowlers have taken so many T20 international wickets in a calendar year: Graeme Swann in 2010, Sam Curran in 2022, plus Rashid in 2021, 2022, 2024 and 2025. But there are still no thoughts of the end; 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 says. “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’. Right now, I’ve not considered other options. I’ve got that passion, there’s a lot of cricket to be played.

“I aim to belong to this side, this roster we possess today, during the upcoming adventure we face, which hopefully will be nice and I want to be part of it. With luck, we can achieve victories and secure World Cups, all the positive outcomes. And I’m looking forward to hopefully participating in that journey.

“We cannot predict future events. Around the corner things can change very quickly. Existence and cricket are highly uncertain. I aim to keep focused on the now – each game separately, each phase gradually – and let things unfold, see where cricket and life takes me.”

From several perspectives, this isn’t the moment to consider conclusions, but rather of beginnings: a fresh team with a new captain, a new coach and new horizons. “We are embarked on that path,” Rashid comments. “Several new players are present. Certain individuals have left, others have arrived, and that’s simply part of the rotation. Yet we possess know-how, we have young talent, we include elite performers, we’ve got Brendon McCullum, who’s a very, very good coach, and all are committed to our goals. 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 feels this is a distinct asset of McCullum’s.

“We feel like a unit,” he says. “We experience a familial atmosphere, encouraging each other no matter success or failure, whether your day is positive or negative. We’re trying to make sure we stick to our morals in that way. Let’s make sure we stick together, that unity we have, that brotherhood.

“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 ideally, we shall, irrespective of performance outcomes.

“Baz is very composed, laid-back, but he’s on the ball in terms of coaching, he’s on it in that sense. And he aims to generate that climate. Yes, we are relaxed, we are chilled, but we confirm that when we step onto the ground we are attentive and we are giving our all. A lot of credit goes to Baz for creating that environment, and hopefully we can carry that on for a lot longer.”