‘My passion remains at 100%’: England’s ageless Rashid still going strong

More than a decade and a half from his first appearance, Adil Rashid 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 hectic, monotonous life while discussing the squad-uniting short trip in Queenstown which began England’s cold-weather campaign: “Sometimes you don’t get that opportunity when you’re always on tour,” he states. “You arrive, practice, compete, and move on.”

But his zeal is evident, not only when he talks about the immediate future of a squad that looks to be blooming guided by Harry Brook and his individual spot on it, and also when observing Rashid practice, compete, or deliver. Although he managed to halt New Zealand’s progress as they attempted to chase down England’s record‑breaking 236 at the Hagley Oval ground in Christchurch on Monday night, as his four-wicket spell claimed almost all of their top five batsmen, no action can prevent the passage of time.

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Rashid reaches 38 years old 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 close pal and current podcast partner Moeen Ali, merely some months elder, retired from international cricket last year. But Rashid remains integral: those four wickets took him to 19 so far this year, 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, and Rashid in 2021, 2022, 2024 and now 2025. But there are still no thoughts of the end; his attention stays on defeating rivals, not closing his career.

“One hundred per cent I’ve still got the hunger, the hunger to play for England and represent my country,” Rashid declares. “From my view, that’s the greatest success in all sports. That fervor for England persists within me. In my opinion, if the enthusiasm diminishes, or something similar, that’s the moment you consider: ‘Alright, let’s seriously ponder 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 want to be part of this team, this squad we’ve got now, on the next journey we have, 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 cannot predict future events. Around the corner things can change very quickly. It’s very unpredictable, life and cricket. I prefer to remain in the moment – one match at a time, one stage 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 more of origins: a fresh team with a new captain, a new coach and new horizons. “We’re on that journey,” Rashid says. “A handful of fresh members exist. Some have departed, some have joined, and that’s just part of the cycle. Yet we possess know-how, we have young talent, we’ve got world‑class players, we’ve got Brendon McCullum, who’s a very, very good coach, and each person supports our objectives. Certainly, there will be obstacles during the journey, that’s inherent to the sport, but we’re definitely focused and really on the ball, for whatever lies ahead.”

The wish to arrange that Queenstown visit, and the appointment of previous All Blacks mindset trainer Gilbert Enoka, indicates a special emphasis on building extra from this team beyond a playing eleven. and Rashid thinks this is a unique talent of McCullum’s.

“We perceive ourselves as a unified entity,” he expresses. “We enjoy a family-like setting, 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 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 is focused in that aspect. And he wants to create that environment. Certainly, we are at ease, we are cool, 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 ideally, we can sustain that for an extended period.”