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

More than a decade and a half from his first appearance, England’s seasoned bowler might be excused for growing weary of the international cricket treadmill. Currently in New Zealand for his 35th global T20 event, he describes that busy, routine existence as he mentions the group-connecting brief holiday in Queenstown that launched England’s winter tour: “Sometimes you don’t get that opportunity when you’re always on tour,” he remarks. “You arrive, practice, compete, and move on.”

However, his passion is obvious, not merely when he reflects on the near-term prospects of a team that appears to be thriving with Harry Brook and his individual spot on it, and also when observing Rashid practice, compete, or deliver. Yet while he succeeded in curbing New Zealand’s charge as they attempted to chase down England’s record‑breaking 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, 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. Once the following 50-over World Cup is held in late 2027 he’ll be close to 40. His great friend and now podcast co‑host Moeen Ali, only a few months older than him, stepped away from global cricket the previous year. Yet Rashid stays crucial: those four dismissals brought his yearly tally to 19, six more than any other Englishman. 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 focus remains on bringing down opponents, not curtains.

“One hundred per cent I’ve still got the hunger, the hunger to play for England and represent my country,” Rashid affirms. “Personally, I believe that’s the top accomplishment in any athletic field. That fervor for England persists within me. I feel that once the passion fades, or whatever occurs, then you reflect: ‘Okay, time to genuinely evaluate 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, along the forthcoming path we tread, which ought to be rewarding and I intend to contribute. With luck, we can achieve victories and secure World Cups, all the positive outcomes. And I await hopefully joining that expedition.

“We are unaware of what will occur. Just ahead, situations can shift rapidly. 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 allow events to develop, observe where cricket and existence lead me.”

In numerous aspects, now is not the period to ponder finishes, but rather of beginnings: a renewed side with a changed leader, a changed mentor and new vistas. “We are embarked on that path,” Rashid says. “There are a few new faces. 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 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 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 appointment of previous All Blacks mindset trainer Gilbert Enoka, implies a specific concentration on developing additional value from this squad apart from a lineup. and Rashid thinks this is a unique talent of McCullum’s.

“We perceive ourselves as a unified entity,” he says. “We enjoy a family-like setting, encouraging each other no matter success or failure, if your outing is strong or weak. We’re trying to make sure we stick to our morals in that way. 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 atmosphere Baz and we aim to establish, and we have developed. And with luck, we will, no matter if our day is successful or not.

“Baz is very relaxed, chilled out, but he is sharp in his mentoring role, 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. Significant acknowledgment is due to Baz for building that milieu, and hopefully we can carry that on for a lot longer.”