England's Adil Rashid on the possibility of playing until he's 40 and what he'll say if he's offered an Ashes call-up

Adil Rashid discusses the possibility of playing beyond 40 and whether he would consider an Ashes call-up as he speaks to the media ahead of England's first T20 match against South Africa on Wednesday (first ball 6.30pm, live on Sky Sports Cricket); Rashid greets team-mate Rehan Ahmed.

Pictured: Adil Rashid is a key player for England's white-ball cricket team and at 37, he shows no signs of slowing down.

English striker Adil Rashid has not ruled out playing until he is 40 or longer.

Rashid, 37, has been an integral part of his country's white-ball teams since 2015, winning the 50-ball World Cup four years later and then the T20 version in 2022.

The Yorkshireman shows no signs of slowing down, taking eight wickets at an average of nine during the recent 2-1 One-Day International defeat to South Africa.

Sam Curran returns to England squad for first top 20 cap 👍
England Men's Cricket Results and Schedule 2025 📒
Get the Sky Sports push notifications you need 🔔📱
Subscribe to Sky Sports or watch live without a contract NOW 📺

England football team in first T20 match against South Africa

Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (wicketkeeper), Jacob Bethell, Harry Brooke (captain), Sam Curran, Tom Banton, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid, Jofra Archer

Watch the first T20 International live on Sky Sports Cricket on Wednesday from 6pm (first leg 6.30pm). Watch NOW with no contract.

Rashid will now be hoping to help England secure a T20 series win against the same opponents this week as the team prepares for next year's T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.

Ahead of Wednesday's first game in Cardiff, which kicks off live on Sky Sports Cricket from 6pm (first ball 6.30pm), the player told reporters: “I'm doing well at the moment.

“I like to take it game by game, day by day, and not look too far ahead in terms of World Cups in the coming years. Just let things happen and let nature take its course.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player.

Rashid took the final wicket as England secured a record 342-run win over South Africa in Southampton on Sunday to avoid a 3-0 series defeat.

“Deep down, of course, you think about age and that you’re about to turn 40, 41, but who knows what might happen in a year, two, three?

“You want to play cricket for as long as you can, as long as your body can handle it and you are performing at a certain level.

If everything goes well, I will try my best. Hopefully, if I continue to perform, I can continue.”

Rashid would have rejected Ash's call

Rashid has not played a red-ball match since the last of his 19 Test matches against the West Indies in January 2019 and says he would reject the Ashes option in the unlikely event that England invited him in that format before the winter.

His close friend and fellow spinner Moeen Ali has returned from Test retirement to play in the 2023 Ashes at home, but Rashid will not follow suit.

Pictured: Rashid took 135 wickets for England in T20 internationals.

“That would be a 'no',” Rashid added. “I feel quite comfortable and confident in what I do since I retired from playing red-ball cricket.”

“I'm confident that won't happen because the players who come will play well. I'm confident England will sort it out.”

However, Rehan Ahmed could become a regular for the Ashes as the 21-year-old is enjoying a superb season in his home country across all formats, with both bat and ball.

The all-rounder with excellent leg spin has made five County Championship centuries, ranking in Leicestershire's top three, and has taken 23 wickets, including 13 in one game, at an average of 19, as well as two Vitality Blast half-centuries.

Plus, while playing for the Trent Rockets in the hundred, Ahmed scored 149 runs and took 12 wickets.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player.

Sky Sports' Michael Atherton believes Rehan Ahmed is Rashid's “natural successor” in the England white-ball cricket squad, but should he be included in the Ashes squad for the winter?

The youngster has not played a single ODI series or made the starting line-up for the T20s, but Rashid says he has a bright future ahead of him.

The experienced England international added of Ahmed: “I wouldn't say anything clicked, it's just that as you get older you become more experienced and you start to understand your game better.”

“That's what started to happen in certain situations when batting and serving. When you play well, you gain confidence, you go out there with freedom and let your talent shine.”

“He works hard in the net as well and when he gets that opportunity for a longer period he will come into his own.”

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player.