That’s not to trivialise the vital role Rashid has played for England over the last decade, or that his retirement – when it does eventually come – would not be problematic. No player has taken more wickets for England in T20Is than Rashid, and he’s fast closing in on Jimmy Anderson’s record in the 50 over format. Having played 153 T20Is, the next-most experienced spinner in England’s attack after Rashid is Liam Dawson, who has played 39.

England were able to rely heavily on their pacers during the ODI series in which Rashid was absent, and Rashid himself only sent-down seven overs in the three-match T20I series. The bright spot was Will Jacks’ becoming the seventh English spinner to take an ODI five-for – something Rashid has done twice.

The general anxiety over life after Rashid comes from the lack of specialist leggies coming up behind him. It’s why so much stock has been put in Rehan Ahmed since he was a teenager, despite the lack of substance to justify that faith. Against Sri Lanka, Rehan had his first real chance to show that his position as Rashid’s heir was well bestowed. He instead highlighted just how different England’s white-ball sides will have to look when Rashid is no longer in them, without that reliable, everpresent source of overs and wickets.

Different, is the key word. Rashid’s modus operandi is different to most other leg-spinners in international cricket today. In the T20 World Cup earlier this year, Rashid bowled more deliveries under 80kph than any other spinner. He also bowled fuller than any of his peers, allowing him to get that trademark late dip after lighting the batter’s eyes up. And, if the late-dipper doesn’t get you, the quicker one fizzed down will. Most importantly, no spin bowler in the tournament took more wickets at a lower economy rate.

In comparison to England’s other spinners, not only are there none of Rashid’s quality, but there are none who bowl comparably to him. Rehan bowls significantly quicker than Rashid and doesn’t generate the same dip. “Most leg-spinners around the world in the last six-seven years have had success doing the opposite thing [to Rashid], bowling quicker stumpt-to-stump” Rehan said earlier this year. “But for him to do that [bowl slowly] and be so brave and to get it right most of the time, it's incredible.”

Some of Rashid’s individuality has been protected by the different path he’s trod compared to other leggies who have earned their fortunes bowling mystery spin around the world. In contrast, Rashid has played relatively little T20 franchise cricket. In the last year his appearances beyond England have been limited to The Hundred and a three-week stint in the ILT20 during a gap in the England white-ball calendar during The Ashes. Perhaps, at 38, the limited cricket he plays outside of his international commitments has allowed him to keep playing as he draws closer to his 40th birthday.

Equally, age milestones tend not to act as sharp cut offs for spinners as they do across other specialisms. At 47, Imran Tahir continues to be a regular buy in franchise auctions. Mohammad Nabi continues to play for Afghanistan aged 41, and Sikandar Raza spent his 40th birthday at the top of the ICC T20I all-rounder rankings last April. While the end of the 2023-27 World Cup cycle has in some ways added urgency to the Rashid succession planning, it’s not out of the question that Rashid could still be taking wickets for England in the 2031 World Cup.

With age and maturity also come the benefits that England’s younger crop of spinners struggle to reach, too often cast aside while still in their early to mid 20s. In an interview with Cricinfo earlier this year, Rashid said: “You know at this age that sometimes things go your way, and sometimes they don't. I think you also think more clearly about how to adapt to a situation and what's required in this moment, on this pitch. All these things come in which you may not know when you're younger.”

In a way, however, England have already found their answer to what comes next.

In the absence of spinners across formats, spin-bowling all-rounders have filled in England’s blanks and stepped up to an expanded role with the ball. No bowler has sent down more overs for England in ODIs this year than Will Jacks has. Batting allrounder James Coles was named in England’s ODI squad for their upcoming tri-series in Pakistan, while Mason Crane’s nine-year wait for a recall coincided with a stellar domestic season with the bat. The appeal of Rehan has centred around his supposed versatility, meaning he’s opened the batting twice for England in ODIs.

Nothing has shown the extent to which Rashid’s quality and longevity is an anomaly quite like England’s quest to replace him, or how far in advance they started the search. There is no higher praise, however, than when Rashid does eventually pull the trigger, that England will have had to completely remodel how they play their white-ball cricket.

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