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Following 16 years since his debut, England’s seasoned bowler might be excused for tiring of the non-stop cricket circuit. Presently touring New Zealand for his 35th international T20 series or tournament, he summarises that busy, routine existence while discussing the team-bonding mini‑break in Queenstown which began England’s cold-weather campaign: “Sometimes you don’t get that opportunity when you’re always on tour,” he says. “You arrive, practice, compete, and move on.”

However, his passion is obvious, not only when he talks about the immediate future of a side that seems to be flourishing with Harry Brook and his personal role within it, and also when observing Rashid practice, compete, or deliver. Yet while he succeeded in curbing New Zealand’s charge 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. When the next ODI World Cup occurs near the end of 2027 he’ll be close to 40. His great friend and now podcast co‑host Moeen Ali, only a few months older than him, ended his international cricket career last year. However, Rashid continues essential: those four dismissals brought his yearly tally to 19, six ahead of any other England player. Just three England bowlers have claimed as many T20I wickets in one year: Graeme Swann in 2010, Sam Curran in 2022, plus Rashid in 2021, 2022, 2024 and 2025. But no plans exist for conclusion; his concentration is on overcoming foes, not ending his journey.

“Totally, I retain the appetite, the hunger to play for England and represent my country,” Rashid affirms. “As an individual, I think that’s the biggest achievement in any sport. That fervor for England persists within me. I feel that once the passion fades, or whatever occurs, that’s when you think: ‘OK, right, let’s have a real think about it’. At the moment I haven’t really thought of anything else. 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 anticipate hopefully taking part in that voyage.

“We don’t know what’s going to happen. Around the corner things can change very quickly. Existence and cricket are highly uncertain. 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 instead of starts: 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. Some have departed, some have joined, and that’s merely part of the process. However, we hold expertise, we contain new blood, we feature top-tier cricketers, we’ve got Brendon McCullum, who’s a very, very good coach, and each person supports our objectives. Indeed, setbacks will occur on the path, that’s part and parcel of the game, but we’re definitely focused and really on the ball, for any coming events.”

The desire to schedule that Queenstown trip, 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 perceive ourselves as a unified entity,” he expresses. “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 atmosphere Baz and we aim to establish, and we have created. And ideally, we shall, irrespective of performance outcomes.

“Baz is quite calm, easygoing, 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’re making sure that when we go on that pitch we’re focused and we’re going for it. Much praise belongs to Baz for forming that atmosphere, and hopefully we can carry that on for a lot longer.”