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More than over 16 seasons from his first appearance, the veteran spinner could be forgiven for tiring of the international cricket treadmill. Presently touring New Zealand for his 35th T20 international competition, he summarises that frantic, repetitive schedule while discussing the squad-uniting short trip in Queenstown with which England started their winter: “Sometimes you don’t get that opportunity when you’re always on tour,” he states. “Touch down, drill, perform, and journey.”

But his zeal is evident, not merely when he reflects on the immediate future of a squad that looks to be blooming with 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, as his four-wicket spell claimed almost all of their top five batsmen, he cannot do anything to stop time.

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Rashid will turn 38 in February, during the T20 World Cup’s middle phase. By the time the next one‑day international version is played towards the end of 2027 he will be nearly 40. His longtime friend and present podcast colleague Moeen Ali, just a few months his senior, retired from international cricket last year. But Rashid remains integral: those four dismissals brought his yearly tally to 19, half a dozen beyond another English bowler. Only three English bowlers have taken so many T20 international wickets in a calendar year: Swann in 2010, Curran in 2022, and Rashid across 2021, 2022, 2024 and 2025. But there are still no thoughts of the end; his concentration is on overcoming foes, not ending his journey.

“One hundred per cent I’ve still got the hunger, the eagerness to compete for England and stand for my country,” Rashid affirms. “Personally, I believe that’s the top accomplishment in any athletic field. 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’. At the moment I haven’t really thought of anything else. I hold that drive, and much cricket remains.

“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. Ideally, we can taste success and claim World Cups, everything excellent. And I await hopefully joining that expedition.

“We are unaware of what will occur. Nearby, circumstances can alter swiftly. 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 numerous aspects, now is not the period to ponder finishes, but instead of starts: a novel squad with a different skipper, a different coach and fresh prospects. “We’re on that journey,” Rashid notes. “There are a few new faces. Some have gone out, some have come in, and that’s just part of the cycle. Yet we possess know-how, we have young talent, we feature top-tier cricketers, we have Brendon McCullum, an excellent coach, and everybody’s buying in to what we’re trying to achieve. Yes, there’s going to be hiccups along the way, that’s inherent to the sport, but we are undoubtedly concentrated and fully attentive, for whatever lies ahead.”

The aim to plan that Queenstown excursion, and the recruitment of the former All Blacks mental skills coach Gilbert Enoka, implies a specific concentration on developing additional value from this squad apart from a lineup. and Rashid believes this is a particular strength of McCullum’s.

“We feel like a unit,” he conveys. “We feel like a family kind of environment, backing each other regardless of whether you perform or don’t perform, 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 built. And with luck, we will, no matter if our day is successful or not.

“Baz is very relaxed, chilled out, 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 ideally, we can sustain that for an extended period.”