Adil Rashid recently became the first English spinner to reach 200 ODI wickets, cementing his status as a key player for England. Despite speculation, Rashid dismissed talk of retirement, expressing his continued hunger for the game. He achieved this milestone during England’s second consecutive defeat to Australia, amid a poor run of form that has seen the team lose 10 of their last 14 ODIs.
England are in a transitional phase, with several senior players like Jos Buttler missing. Interim coach Marcus Trescothick currently leads the side before Brendon McCullum takes over the limited-overs squad. Rashid, however, remains crucial to England’s plans, with major tournaments like the 2025 Champions Trophy, 2026 T20 World Cup, and 2027 50-over World Cup in sight.
His central contract with the ECB runs until the summer of 2025, allowing him to focus on fitness and contributing to England’s success in the coming years. On achieving the milestone, the veteran said:
“I have not thought about it [retirement] yet. Keep playing, enjoy it, stay fit, bowl well, contribute to wins, hopefully World Cups and Champions Trophies – that is my ultimate aim.
“I’m playing each game and each series as it comes and if I’m still enjoying it and performing well, I’ll keep carrying on.
“To play for this long and take the wickets I have, I’d never, ever dreamt of that, so hopefully I can carry it on. It’s been an enjoyable ride with ups and downs, and hopefully, I can stay on the up for the remainder of my career.
“I’ve got no eye yet on retiring or anything like that – that’s not even crossed my mind. It’s about enjoying the game and still giving it everything I’ve got.”
Rashid reflected on Moeen Ali’s recent retirement, noting the personal and dressing room impact of his long-time friend’s departure. Now a senior figure in the team, Rashid is eager to mentor younger spinners like Rehan Ahmed and Jafer Chohan, passing on his technical and mental insights.
Rashid is the first English spinner to reach 200 ODI wickets: Now set to inspire generations
Rashid played a pivotal role in England’s golden era between 2015 and 2019, participating in 76 of 81 ODIs under Eoin Morgan. He recognizes, however, that England’s current journey back to success will be more uncertain. With upcoming challenges and a shifting team dynamic, Rashid’s experience offers crucial continuity. As England look to rebuild after disappointing title defences, Rashid’s leadership and expertise will be vital to guiding the younger generation. His statements read:
“He’s a big miss for the team and a big miss for me because we’re really good friends on and off the pitch. He’s made that decision and got another chapter of his life with the remainder of his career and I’m sure he’ll do wonders.
“With Mo not being there my input will obviously be a little bit more, speaking to the youngsters and them coming to me,”
“That’s the ultimate aim. Whatever I’ve got in terms of experience, form, ups and downs, the knowledge I have, I can pass that on. It could be in terms of mindset or technical things. I’m trying to do that now as well, with the youngsters I’m working with.
“I’ve worked with Rehan Ahmed, I’ve worked with Jafer (Chohan) at Yorkshire. There’s a few around the circuit, they’re in competition, which is healthy, and they can compete to become that No. 1 spinner.”
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