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More than a decade and a half after his initial cap, England’s seasoned bowler might be excused for tiring of the international cricket treadmill. Now in New Zealand for his 35th T20 international competition, he describes that busy, routine existence while discussing the group-connecting brief holiday 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.”

Yet his enthusiasm is clear, not only when he talks about the immediate future of a side that seems to be flourishing guided by Harry Brook and his individual spot on it, but also when watching Rashid train, play or bowl. Yet while he succeeded in curbing New Zealand’s charge as they aimed to overhaul England’s monumental 236 at the Hagley Oval ground in Christchurch on Monday night, with his four dismissals covering four of their leading five run-getters, no action can prevent the passage of time.

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In February, Rashid hits the age of 38, during the T20 World Cup’s middle phase. Once the following 50-over World Cup is held in late 2027 he’ll be close to 40. His longtime friend and present podcast colleague Moeen Ali, just a few months his senior, ended his international cricket career last year. But Rashid remains integral: those four dismissals brought his yearly tally to 19, six more than any other Englishman. Only three English bowlers have taken so many T20 international wickets in a calendar year: Graeme Swann in 2010, Sam Curran in 2022, and Rashid in 2021, 2022, 2024 and now 2025. Yet there are no considerations of retirement; his focus remains on bringing down opponents, not curtains.

“Totally, I retain the appetite, the craving to feature for England and symbolize my nation,” Rashid says. “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 when you think: ‘OK, right, let’s have a real think about it’. Right now, I’ve not considered other options. I hold that drive, and much cricket remains.

“I desire to join this team, this group we have currently, on the next journey we have, which ought to be rewarding and I intend to contribute. 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. Existence and cricket are highly uncertain. I always like to stay present – a game at a time, a step at a time – and let things unfold, see where cricket and life takes me.”

In many ways this is no time to be thinking of endings, but more of origins: a renewed side with a changed leader, a changed mentor and new vistas. “We have begun that voyage,” Rashid comments. “Several new players are present. Certain individuals have left, others have arrived, and that’s merely part of the process. However, we hold expertise, we contain new blood, we’ve got world‑class players, 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 undoubtedly concentrated and fully attentive, for all future challenges.”

The desire to schedule that Queenstown trip, 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 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 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 wonderful attribute, all members support one another and that’s the culture Baz and we seek to form, and we have developed. And hopefully we can, regardless of whether we have a good day or a bad day.

“Baz is very relaxed, chilled out, but he is attentive regarding coaching, he is diligent in that regard. And he desires to foster that setting. Certainly, we are at ease, we are cool, 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.”