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

After a decade and a half since his debut, England’s seasoned bowler might be excused for feeling exhausted by the global cricket grind. Currently in New Zealand for his 35th global T20 event, he summarises that busy, routine existence as he mentions the squad-uniting short trip in Queenstown with which England started their winter: “At times, these moments are scarce during endless tours,” he says. “Touch down, drill, perform, and journey.”

However, his passion is obvious, not only when he talks about the immediate future 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 tried to pursue England’s historic 236 at the Hagley Oval ground in Christchurch on Monday night, as his four-wicket spell claimed almost all of their top five batsmen, there is nothing he can do to halt time.

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Rashid will turn 38 in February, during the T20 World Cup’s middle phase. Once the following 50-over World Cup is held in late 2027 he will be nearly 40. His close pal and current podcast partner Moeen Ali, only a few months older than him, stepped away from global cricket the previous year. But Rashid remains integral: those four dismissals brought his yearly tally to 19, half a dozen beyond another English bowler. Merely three English cricketers have achieved such T20 international wickets in a single 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 craving to feature for England and symbolize my nation,” Rashid says. “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’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, along the forthcoming path we tread, 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 cannot predict future events. Nearby, circumstances can alter swiftly. It’s very unpredictable, life and cricket. I aim to keep focused on the now – each game separately, each phase gradually – and allow events to develop, observe where cricket and existence lead me.”

From several perspectives, this isn’t the moment to consider conclusions, but more of origins: a renewed side with a changed leader, a changed mentor and new vistas. “We have begun that voyage,” Rashid notes. “Several new players are present. Some have departed, some have joined, and that’s just part of the cycle. Yet we possess know-how, we have young talent, we feature top-tier cricketers, we employ Brendon McCullum, a superb mentor, and everybody’s buying in to what we’re trying to achieve. Yes, there’s going to be hiccups along the way, that’s part and parcel of the game, but we are surely dedicated and completely prepared, for all future challenges.”

The desire to schedule that Queenstown trip, and the hiring of ex-All Blacks mental coach Gilbert Enoka, indicates a special emphasis on building extra from this team beyond a playing eleven. and Rashid believes this is a particular strength of McCullum’s.

“We sense we are a cohesive group,” he says. “We feel like a family kind of environment, encouraging each other no matter success or failure, if your outing is strong or weak. We attempt to ensure we adhere to our principles thus. Let’s guarantee we stay together, that solidarity we possess, that fellowship.

“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 with luck, we will, no matter if our day is successful or not.

“Baz is quite calm, easygoing, but he’s on the ball in terms of coaching, he’s on it in that sense. And he wants to create that environment. 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 with hope, we can continue that for much more time.”