Former Australia paceman Geoff Lawson believes England won the Ashes because they out-bowled their opponents.

Michael Vaughan's side drew the final Test at The Oval to win the series 2-1 and Lawson believes the England captain had more bowling options than counterpart Ricky Ponting.

"England have played some wonderful cricket, they've certainly out-bowled us," admitted Lawson.

Vaughan was able to rely on Andrew Flintoff, Simon Jones and Matthew Hoggard to make telling contributions with the ball, backed up by Steve Harmison and Ashley Giles.

"Michael Vaughan always had someone to go to and Ricky Ponting had two and a half bowlers really," added Lawson.

Shane Warne, who took 40 wickets in the series, was Australia's only consistent threat with the ball as Glenn McGrath missed two Tests through injury and the remainder of the bowling attack, Brett Lee aside, failed to impose themselves on the England batting.

Lawson believes the fiercely-contested series has generated a new respect between the players after tensions had been raised during the one-day series which preceded the five Tests.

"There has been a respect, I think it has grown a little bit during the summer," added Lawson.

"Freddie Flintoff and Brett Lee epitomise all the good things about sport we want to see. It was a great win for England, they've deserved it."

Lawson, once a scourge of England batsmen, predicted a sombre mood in his home country following the loss of the Ashes.

"I think the elation in England will be several times greater than the depression in Australia. It might hasten a few changes (in Australian cricket) but that's a good thing."

Former England captain Mike Gatting, the last skipper to win the Ashes before Vaughan, put England's series win down to the momentum the team had generated over the last two years.

"They've performed very well over the last two years, climaxing in the wonderful series we've just seen," Gatting told Sky News.

"It's captured the imagination."

Gatting agreed with Lawson that the spirit the series was played in had been good for the game.

"You have to earn respect and I think the England players earned the Aussie respect over the summer," said Gatting.

Seeing Warne congratulate Kevin Pietersen, after the Australian had dropped a catch early in his Hampshire colleague's impressive innings of 158, impressed Gatting.

"You only have to see the players at the end (of the Oval Test), Shane Warne shaking Pietersen by the hand. To do that says a lot about the man," said Gatting.

Former England batsman Allan Lamb believes the current side deserve credit for capturing the public's imagination this summer.

"I think a lot of people didn't think we could win the Ashes back," Lamb told Sky Sports News.

"Before the series started, that side had a chance even though the nation didn't think we could do it.

"After losing the first, then coming back to win two - the whole nation got behind them. The players can walk high today.

"It's brought different people to the game, people have turned up in their droves to watch them - and cricket is on the up and up.".