2014–15: South Africa A, West Indies and Ireland Due to his form in county cricket, Rashid was named in the England Lions squad for their tour of South Africa in early 2015, set to play in both their first-class and one-day series against
South Africa A. He batted well on the tour with innings of 78 and 68 in the unofficial Tests. In March 2015, Rashid was named in the England Test squad for the
tour of the West Indies. In the tour matches leading up to England's Test series against the West Indies, Rashid did not perform well enough to get into the Test side, with the selectors favouring James Tredwell ahead of him. Despite not being used in the Test matches, he was not allowed to return to England to play with Yorkshire at the beginning of the county cricket season, though Rashid did leave the tour early to join England's ODI team for their
match against Ireland. After the match, Yorkshire hired a private jet to fly Rashid back in time for their next county match against
Hampshire, where he took four wickets in each innings.
2015: Return to ODI side against New Zealand and Australia With the
2015 Ashes around the corner, the English selectors decided to rest Moeen Ali from
their ODI series against New Zealand and brought in Rashid as his replacement. Rashid had an immediate impact in the first match of the series, being involved in the
highest 7th wicket partnership of ODI history with
Jos Buttler, where they scored 177 runs. Rashid reached his maiden half-century in just 37 balls and went on to score 69 runs, then he gave the most eye-catching bowling of the match as well, making use of his
googly to take the wicket of
Kane Williamson and finishing with figures of 4/55. Rashid played all five matches of the series for England and finished with a total of 8 wickets. Rashid was included in England's 13-man squad for the first Test of the Ashes, but the selectors decided that they would only use Rashid in the Test as a second spinner alongside Moeen Ali if there was a spinning pitch. Rashid remained in the Test squad for every match of the Ashes but did not play, and instead he continued playing county cricket for Yorkshire, scoring a century against
Durham. Although he had not played in the Ashes at all, Rashid did get to play in the ODI series against Australia and solidified his spot in the team with figures of 4/59 in the 1st ODI and 2/41 in the 3rd ODI. Across the five-match series he took 7 wickets, the most of England's bowlers.
2015 Pakistan In October 2015, Rashid was selected in the England touring party to play
Pakistan in the
UAE making his debut in the First Test at
Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium. Rashid had a torrid time in the first innings of his first match in the Test side, finishing with figures of 0–163 as Pakistan posted 523 – the worst figures by a Test debutant. However, he enjoyed a remarkable turn around of fortunes in the next innings, finishing with figures of 5–64, a return that was nearly good enough for England to win the match, although it eventually finished in a draw. In the second Test he took 1–84 in Pakistan's first innings and 1–107 in their second as England lost the game by 178 runs, although Rashid made his maiden Test half-century in England's second innings, hitting 61. In the third and final Test, Rashid did not take a wicket in Pakistan's first innings, and in the second innings he finished with 1–97 as England lost the match and the series 2–0. Following the Test series, Rashid played in the ODI series. He only took one wicket in the first three games, finishing with figures of 0–60 in the first game, which England lost. After taking 1–32 in the second match, he again finished wicketless in the third match of the series. He was expensive in the final match of the series, although he did pick up three wickets and England won the match and the series 3–1. He played in all three of the T20 matches. After not bowling or batting in the first game, he took figures of 2–18 in the second game as England secured a three-run victory. He took 1–29 in the final game which went to a Super Over, with England winning the matches after the scores finished level.
2015/16 South Africa At the urging of coach
Jason Gillespie, Rashid signed a deal to play for
Adelaide Strikers in the
Big Bash in 2015-16 after being left out of the England squad for the
tour of South Africa. Rashid was not selected for the Test series against South Africa, although he did keep his place in the ODI side. After failing to take a wicket in the first game, he finished with figures of 1–43 in the second game which England won by five wickets. After taking 1–45 in the third game, he had his best return of the series in the fourth match. After making 39 with the bat, he took figures of 2–38, although South Africa secured a one wicket victory. In the final match of the series he took figures of 1–59 as South Africa won the match by five wickets to win the series 3–2. England lost both T20 matches, although Rashid performed reasonably well, taking figures of 1–24 in the first game and 1–30 in the second game, although England lost by nine wickets.
2016 T20 World Cup Rashid took figures of 1–20 in the opening game against the West Indies, although it wasn't enough to prevent a defeat. In the second game he picked up figures of 1–35 against South Africa, before taking his best figures of the tournament, 2–18 against Afghanistan. With England needing to beat Sri Lanka to qualify for the semi-finals, Rashid finished with figures of 0–31 as England won by ten runs. He did not pick up a wicket against New Zealand in the semi-final, but turned in a good performance in the final against West Indies, taking figures of 1–23. Despite his good performance, England suffered a narrow loss and finished as runners-up.
2016 Sri Lanka and Pakistan Rashid did not pick up a wicket in the first ODI, although he did bowl economically as the match ended in a tie. He took 2–34 in the second match of the series, which England won by ten wickets. In the rain affected third match, he failed to pick up a wicket, and the match was eventually abandoned. In the fourth ODI he took 2–47 as England won by six wickets. He picked up another two wickets in the final game of the series as England completed a 3–0 series win after winning the match by 122 runs. Rashid played in the only T20I between the two sides, and bowled economically, conceding just 25 runs from his four overs, as England won by eight wickets. Rashid took figures of 2–51 in the first ODI against Pakistan, as England got off to a winning start. In the second ODI, he took figures of 1–51 as England restricted Pakistan to 251 and won the match by four wickets. In the third match of the series he took figures of 2–73 as England again won to go 3–0 up in the series. In the fourth match he took figures of 3–47 as England won by four wickets. Rashid was rested for the final match, which England lost. He took figures of 1–29 in the only T20I between the two sides, which England lost by nine wickets.
2016 Bangladesh In the first ODI against Bangladesh, Rashid took figures of 4–49 to help England to a 21-run victory. In the second match, he made an unbeaten 33 and took another two wickets, but England lost. In the third match of the series, he took 4–43 as England recorded a four wicket victory to win the series 2–1. In the first Test, Rashid scored 26 with the bat before taking 2–58. He took 1–55 in Bangladesh's second innings as England recorded a 22-run victory. In the second Test, Rashid was wicketless in the first innings but took 4–52 in the second innings. England were unable to chase down their target and lost by 108 runs.
2016–17 India In the first Test against India, Rashid took figures of 4–114 in India's first innings, before taking 3–64 in their second innings. However, England were unable to force a win and the match ended in a draw. Rashid took 2–110 in India's first innings of the second Test, before making an unbeaten 32 with the bat. He continued to bowl well in India's second innings, taking 4–82, although India won the game by 246 runs. In the third Test he took figures of 4–118 in India's first innings, before taking 1–28 as India secured an eight wicket victory. In the fourth Test, he took figures of 4–192 in India's first innings total of 631, as they won by an innings and 36 runs. In the final match of the series, he made 60 in England's first innings before taking figures of 1–153 as India posted 759/7 and won the match to win the series 4–0. Rashid played in the first ODI against India and took figures of 0–50 as England lost by three wickets. He did not feature in the rest of the series, although he retained his place for the T20Is. In the first T20I he did not bat or bowl as England won by seven wickets. In the second match he took 1–24 but England lost by 5 runs as India levelled the series. In the final match of the series he took figures of 0–23 as India made 202/6 and won by 75 runs. He was also named as part of the 'Team of the Tournament' at the 2017 Champions Trophy by the ICC, ESPNcricinfo and Cricbuzz.
2017 West Indies and Ireland Rashid took 1–43 in the first ODI against the West Indies as England won by 45 runs. In the second match he took 2–53 as England secured a 4 wicket victory. Rashid made nine with bat as England made 328 in the final ODI, before taking 1–5 with the ball as England won by 186 runs to win the series 3–0. Later in the same year, the West Indies toured England. Rashid's first appearance was in the only T20I, in which he picked up a personal best of 3–25. He continued this good form into the ODI series, taking an economical 2–31 in the first of five, to help restrict the tourists to 204/9. England made light work of the total, as they cruised to a seven wicket victory. Despite the majority of the second ODI being abandoned due to rain, he took 3–34 in the third, while England won by 124 runs. In the final two games, Rashid picked up a solitary wicket in each, although England won both games and celebrated a 4–0 series victory as a consequence. England started their summer by preparing for the
Champions Trophy, which they were hosting for the second time in succession. Preparation began with two ODIs against
Ireland. In the first ODI, Rashid picked up a career best of 5–27, as Ireland stumbled to 126 all out. England won the game comfortably; they cruised to a seven wicket victory. In the second ODI, Rashid made a speedy 39 from 25 deliveries, although his bowling proved to be less effective, as he took 1–68. England still managed to win the game by 85 runs, and take a 2–0 series victory.
2018 Australia and India Rashid played in all five ODIs against Australia, taking 12 wickets at an average of 21.50. In early 2018 Rashid informed Yorkshire of his desire to only play white-ball cricket during the upcoming season, and will not feature in the
county championship for the side, preferring to focus on his limited-over career. Rashid was called up to the England squad to play Test cricket against India in the 2018 series, causing controversy after his decision not to play 4-day county cricket for Yorkshire. In the second Test, he became the first England cricketer for 13 years to complete a Test match without batting, bowling or taking a catch in the field.
2019 West Indies and the Cricket World Cup In
England's tour of West Indies in 2019, Rashid was selected in all three squads. He played only one Test, in which his figures were 0–117. In the first ODI he took 3–74, with England winning by 6 wickets. In the second, he took 1–28 in a defeat. In the fourth ODI he took his second ODI five-for, with figures of 5–85 to help England to a 28-run victory. In April 2019, he was named in
England's squad for the 2019 Cricket World Cup. On 21 June 2019, in the match against
Sri Lanka, Rashid played in his 150th international match for England.
2020 and 2021 On 29 May 2020, Rashid was named in a 55-man group of players to begin training ahead of international fixtures starting in England following the
COVID-19 pandemic. On 9 July 2020, Rashid was included in England's 24-man squad to start training
behind closed doors for the ODI series
against Ireland. On 27 July 2020, Rashid was named in England's squad for the ODI series. In the second match against Ireland, he became the first
spin bowler for England to take 150 wickets in ODIs. In November 2020, in the second fixture
against South Africa, Rashid took his 50th wicket in T20I cricket. In September 2021, Rashid was named in England's squad for the
2021 ICC Men's T20 World Cup.
2023-2024 Rashid was appointed
Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the
2023 Birthday Honours for services to cricket. In May 2024, he was named in England’s squad for the
2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup tournament. == Bowling style ==