No bowler will be as crucial to England’s World Cup title defence as Adil Rashid.

Amongst the partial changing of the guard from the last four years, the dipping in and out of the core group as and when the calendar has allowed, Rashid has been a near constant.

Only Moeen Ali among England’s World Cup squad has played more ODIs than Rashid since the 2019 final, and none have taken more wickets than he has in that time. While their squad is awash with backup seam options, with variation to choose from in their plethora of left-armers, Rashid alone is trusted to get his job done.

England depend on his presence in their side more than any other player. While there’s firepower below the top order to bank on should Jonny Bairstow or Dawid Malan falter and bite in the tail in the event of a middle-order collapse, there’s no backup plan for Adil Rashid

That dependence is heightened by the importance spin will play in at this World Cup. A quick glance at the leading wicket-takers from the 2011 World Cup gives a sense of just how important slow bowlers will be in stark contrast to the relatively peripheral role they played in England four years ago.

At the last World Cup, Rashid wasn’t at his best. He took 11 wickets in as many games at a tick under six runs an over. It didn’t matter at the time, pace and swing dominated in English conditions and England abandoned their usual two-spin attack halfway through the tournament.

The side was more than well-honed enough to adapt, and their batting attack in form enough to ensure, for the most part, their bowlers had enough to play with. But nothing is as certain this time around.

While England looked better with every game of their series against New Zealand, with Malan in the form of his life, Ben Stokes seemingly able to turn his absurdity on at will and Harry Brook waiting in the wings, they still feel undercooked. It’s the same with the bowlers. There’s still uncertainty around what their starting attack will be, and how Buttler will use the seamers he has at his disposal.

Rashid, however, will be handed the ball after the powerplay, bowl out his quota of overs and be expected to take advantage of the dry conditions to rip through as many as he can. And, it will likely be his last chance, in ODI cricket at least, to show England exactly what they’re going to miss. Sam Curran might have won the player of the tournament at the 2022 T20 World Cup but Rashid’s contributions towards the business end of the tournament were just as pivotal, taking 4-58 across his final 12 overs in the tournament, going at less than a run a ball in both the semi-final and final.

For four years, England have been trying to avoid the thought of Rashid hanging up his international boots. This World Cup will probably mark the end of much of their 2015 and beyond trailblazers at the forefront of the white-ball revolution. But none of them will be as sorely missed as Rashid.

No spinner has taken more wickets for England in the format than Rashid, with Moeen 78 adrift in second place. Moeen’s role depends on conditions and match-ups while Rashid is the constant and, after Buttler, the first name on the team sheet.

England’s team won’t look radically different than it did in 2019 in this tournament – the changing of the guard will happen afterwards. The new era of those who came of age as England dominated in white ball cricket will come to the fore. But, if this is Rashid’s last hurrah, it will be his retirement that truly marks the end of this chapter.

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