Eng vs Aus 3rd ODI – Adil Rashid not out after crossing 200-wicket summit

However, despite the tactical burden and refreshing personnel, Rashid remains an integral part of the future of England’s limited overs teams. February’s Champions Trophy, the 2026 T20 World Cup and the 2027 50-over World Cup mark the next three years, and the 36-year-old, who currently has a medium-term ECB contract that runs until the end of summer 2025 , has designs to be close to all.

“I haven’t thought about it [retirement] but,” Rashid said, speaking ahead of Tuesday’s third ODI at Chester-le-Street. “Keep playing, enjoy it, stay fit, bowl well, contribute to wins, hopefully World Cups and Champions Leagues – that’s my aim big.

“I play each game and each series as it comes and if I’m still enjoying it and doing well, I’ll continue.

“To play for so long and take the wickets that I have, I’ve never, I’ve dreamed of that, I hope I can continue. It’s been an exciting ride with ups and downs, and I hope I can continue for the rest of my career.

“I’m not looking at retirement or anything like that – that hasn’t crossed my mind yet. It’s about enjoying the game and giving it everything I’ve got.”

Of course, the nature of the group is a little different for Rashid. Not only will he have a regular confidant in the company, but he now has the added responsibility of being the wise head in the dressing room, especially for the young spinners as England prepare for life after Rashid. The former will get used to it, but the latter role is something he is willing to accept.

“He is missed a lot in the team and he misses me a lot because we are good friends on and off the field,” said Rashid. “He made that decision and got another phase of his life and the rest of his career and I’m sure he’s going to do wonders.

“Since Mo is not there, it will be clear that my opinion will be important, I talk to the youth and they come to me,” he added.

“That’s the main goal. Whatever I have in terms of experience, form, ups and downs, knowledge I have, I can pass it on. Be it mental or technical things. I’m trying to do that now, too, with the young people I work with.

“I’ve worked with Rehan Ahmed, I’ve worked with Jafer (Chohan) in Yorkshire. There are a few on the circuit, they’re competitive, which is healthy, and they can compete to be the No. 1 spinner.”

Easier said than done, of course. Rashid’s evolution into a world-class operator was accompanied by consistency of choice and principle. Between the 2015 and 2019 World Cups, he played 76 out of 81 ODIs under Eoin Morgan. Next, England appeared at that time as a white football outfit that broke the ground. The demands and opportunities of the modern game mean that the next generation does not have the benefit of that level of continuity.

As such, England’s path back to the top of the pile after failing to defend the ODI and T20I titles in 2023 and 2024 will require a different approach somewhere. But for Rashid, they can still call on someone who knows, and – more importantly – still has what it takes to propel them forward.