‘I’ve still got total passion’: England’s enduring Rashid has no plans to stop

More than 16 years from his first appearance, England’s seasoned bowler could be forgiven for growing weary of the non-stop cricket circuit. Currently in New Zealand for his 35th T20 international competition, he summarises that busy, routine existence 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. “Touch down, drill, perform, and journey.”

However, his passion is obvious, not just when he discusses the upcoming path of a team that appears to be thriving guided by Harry Brook and his personal role within it, but also when watching Rashid train, play or bowl. Although he managed to halt New Zealand’s progress as they aimed to overhaul England’s monumental 236 at the Hagley Oval ground in Christchurch on Monday night, when his four‑wicket haul included all but one of their five highest scorers, no action can prevent the passage of 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 great friend and now podcast co‑host Moeen Ali, just a few months his senior, 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. 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. Yet there are no considerations of retirement; his concentration is on overcoming foes, not ending his journey.

“Totally, I retain the appetite, the eagerness to compete for England and stand for my country,” Rashid affirms. “As an individual, I think that’s the biggest achievement in any sport. I still have that passion there for England. I think that when the passion does die down, or whatever it is, 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 want to be part of this team, this squad we’ve got now, during the upcoming adventure we face, which hopefully will be nice and I want to be part of it. Ideally, we can taste success and claim World Cups, everything excellent. And I’m looking forward to hopefully participating in that journey.

“We cannot predict future events. Around the corner things can change very quickly. Life and the sport are immensely volatile. I prefer to remain in the moment – one match at a time, one stage at a time – and let things unfold, see where cricket and life takes me.”

From several perspectives, this isn’t the moment to consider conclusions, but instead of starts: a fresh team with a new captain, a new coach and new horizons. “We have begun that voyage,” Rashid comments. “Several new players are present. Some have departed, some have joined, and that’s simply part of the rotation. However, we hold expertise, we contain new blood, 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 typical in cricket, but we’re definitely focused and really on the ball, for all future challenges.”

The desire to schedule that Queenstown trip, 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 feels this is a distinct asset of McCullum’s.

“We sense we are a cohesive group,” he expresses. “We experience a familial atmosphere, supporting one another irrespective of performance, whether your day is positive or negative. We attempt to ensure we adhere to our principles thus. 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 atmosphere Baz and we aim to establish, and we have built. And ideally, we shall, irrespective of performance outcomes.

“Baz is very relaxed, chilled out, but he’s on the ball in terms of coaching, he is diligent in that regard. And he wants to create that environment. Indeed, we are tranquil, we are serene, but we ensure that once we enter the field we are concentrated and we are competing fully. Significant acknowledgment is due to Baz for building that milieu, and ideally, we can sustain that for an extended period.”