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After a decade and a half after his initial cap, England’s seasoned bowler could be forgiven for growing weary of the international cricket treadmill. Now in New Zealand for his 35th international T20 series or tournament, he describes that hectic, monotonous life when talking about the group-connecting brief holiday in Queenstown with which England started their winter: “At times, these moments are scarce during endless tours,” he says. “You land, you train, you play and you travel.”

But his zeal is evident, not only when he talks about the immediate future of a squad that looks to be blooming under Harry Brook and his personal role within it, but also when watching Rashid train, play or bowl. But while he was able to stop New Zealand in their tracks as they aimed to overhaul England’s monumental 236 at the Hagley Oval ground in Christchurch 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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In February, Rashid hits the age of 38, halfway into the T20 World Cup. Once the following 50-over World Cup is held in late 2027 he will be nearly 40. His longtime friend and present podcast colleague Moeen Ali, merely some months elder, ended his international cricket career last year. However, Rashid continues essential: those four wickets took him to 19 so far this year, six more than any other Englishman. Just three England bowlers have claimed as many T20I wickets in one year: Graeme Swann in 2010, Sam Curran in 2022, plus Rashid in 2021, 2022, 2024 and 2025. But no plans exist for conclusion; his concentration is on overcoming foes, not ending his journey.

“Totally, I retain the appetite, the craving to feature for England and symbolize my nation,” Rashid says. “Personally, I believe that’s the top accomplishment in any athletic field. That fervor for England persists within me. I think that when the passion does die down, or whatever it is, then you reflect: ‘Okay, time to genuinely evaluate it’. Currently, I haven’t contemplated anything different. 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. Just ahead, situations can shift rapidly. It’s very unpredictable, life and cricket. I always like to stay present – a game at a time, a step at a time – and allow events to develop, observe where cricket and existence lead me.”

In many ways this is no time to be thinking of endings, but instead of starts: a fresh team with a new captain, a new coach and new horizons. “We are embarked on that path,” Rashid comments. “Several new players are present. Certain individuals have left, others have arrived, and that’s just part of the cycle. But we’ve got experience, we’ve got youth, 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. Certainly, there will be obstacles during the journey, that’s typical in cricket, but we are undoubtedly concentrated and fully attentive, for whatever lies ahead.”

The wish to arrange that Queenstown visit, and the hiring of ex-All Blacks mental coach Gilbert Enoka, suggests there is a particular focus on creating something more from this group of players than just an XI. and Rashid feels this is a distinct asset of McCullum’s.

“We sense we are a cohesive group,” he says. “We feel like a family kind of environment, supporting one another irrespective of performance, whether your day is positive or negative. 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 environment that Baz and we are trying to create, and we have developed. And with luck, we will, no matter if our day is successful or not.

“Baz is quite calm, easygoing, but he is sharp in his mentoring role, he is diligent in that regard. And he desires to foster that setting. 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. Much praise belongs to Baz for forming that atmosphere, and hopefully we can carry that on for a lot longer.”