England's 1985 Ashes-winning captain David Gower insists Michael Vaughan's 2005 victors were deserving of the luck which played a part in their success at The Oval on Monday.

The prospects of securing a draw in the fifth and final Test were bleak when Kevin Pietersen came to the crease at 67 for three.

The South Africa-born batsman was put down early on by Shane Warne at first slip before going on to notch 158 to rescue a draw, but Gower believed England were worthy of good fortune for their dogged efforts throughout the summer.

"Yesterday there were some tense moments in the morning where you could have been forgiven for thinking that it was not going where we wanted it to," he said.

"The wickets in the morning could easily have spelt disaster.

"If you were looking for a bit of luck, then that was Shane Warne dropping what for him would normally have been a good chance - you could say that was probably where Australia lost the Ashes.

"England throughout the series has played the best cricket. Australia maybe have not played at their best, but they have not been allowed to be at their best."

Former Australia paceman Jeff Lawson and ex-England skipper Mike Gatting both agreed there was a new-found level of respect between the sides after five close-run Test matches.

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

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

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

"It's captured the imagination. You have to earn respect and the England players earned the Aussie respect over the summer," said 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."

Lancashire star Andrew Flintoff was voted the man of the series, and the county cricket club's chief executive felt the giant all-rounder was "the catalyst" in England's triumph.

Jim Cumbes told BBC GMR: "He has been immense throughout the series. People wondered about his ability and he was going to be tested against the best side in the world.

"But he proved he was equal to the task. It is not just his ability, he has a presence, a charisma, and is a catalyst in the dressing room who keeps the whole thing moving.

"He has been tremendous for them, the fact that he is a team man and part of that big set-up."

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

"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 tall 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."

The Rugby Football League joined in the congratulations for England's Ashes triumph, with RFL Executive Chairman Richard Lewis commenting: "We believe the England cricket team's victory in the Ashes will be tremendous for British sport and we congratulate all of them on their magnificent performance.

"The Ashes series has been fantastically competitive but the respect between the players and the positive atmosphere this has created is a tremendous advert for what sport can do to foster and build relationships."

Speaking in New York, Australian Prime Minister John Howard offered his congratulations.

"It has been an amazing cricket series, a wonderful series for the game of cricket, and the true victor in this series has been this wonderful game that so many of us love," he said.

"I do congratulate England, I commiserate with Ricky Ponting and the Australian team."

David Moorcroft, the chief executive of UK Athletics, said: "It was a fantastic victory by the team and I know when something like this happens it lifts everyone in other English sport to try even harder for team and individual honours.

"It is a huge achievement and a welcome success after the criticism cricket has suffered in the past. Fighting back, their performance is an example to everyone wishing to achieve at the highest level."