Skipper Andrew Strauss (pictured) said England’s Ashes-winning heroes have yet to reach their peak after meting out a 3-1 series thrashing to Australia.

Success Down Uunder has raised hopes that England – ranked third in the world – can challenge for the No 1 spot, held by India.

“It is a very good achievement to come out here and win,” said the former Oxfordshire player.

“But the majority of the team are going to be hitting their peak time in the next couple of years.”

England’s emphatic 3-1 victory – their first in Australia for 24 years – was sealed courtesy of an innings and 83-run victory in Sydney.

All three were achieved by an innings margin, the first time Australia had suffered such an fate on home soil.

But with home Test series against Sri Lanka and India to come this summer, Strauss is determined that the side does not stand still and bask in their achievements of the last six weeks.

“While I’m captain of the England side, you’re not doing your job if you’re not looking ahead to what’s coming up and trying to keep the guys improving and going forward,” he said.

The captain’s opening partner Alastair Cook was named man-of-the-series after top-scoring with 766 runs, which is second only to Wally Hammond’s 905 in 1928-29 for most runs in a series in Australia.

James Anderson’s series-leading 24 wickets was the most by any England bowler since Frank Tyson took 28 in 1954-5, while keeper Matt Prior took 23 catches.