British Prime Minister David Cameron on Friday hailed England's first Ashes series triumph in Australia for 24 years as a "fantastic achievement".
Cameron said he had called captain Andrew Strauss to congratulate him after England emphatically wrapped up victory on the last day of the final Test in Sydney for their first series victory Down Under since 1986-87.
The prime minister, who has admitted to following the Ashes series closely, said: "I've spoken to Andrew Strauss this morning and congratulated the team, coaches and everyone behind the side on this tremendous victory.
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"Retaining the Ashes was a fantastic achievement, but winning the series really is the icing on the cake.
"We've seen some great sporting moments over the series and the team have provided us with some brilliant memories that I'm sure fans will talk about for years to come."
Cameron said the whole country was "incredibly proud" of the team.
Meanwhile, Australian cricket will undergo a thorough review of all facets of its game in the wake of the humiliating drubbing, Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said on Friday.
Acting skipper Michael Clarke said Australian cricket had hit rock-bottom after his team crashed to an unprecedented third innings defeat to England to lose their second consecutive Ashes series.
Amid calls for heads to roll after Australia's inept showing, Sutherland said his organisation could not keep doing the same things and expect a better result in the next Ashes series in England in 2013.
Chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch has expressed a desire to keep selecting teams beyond the conclusion of his contract after the World Cup, which starts next month, while team coach Tim Nielsen is contracted for another three years.
Pace bowling coach Troy Cooley is departing at the end of the World Cup to become head of Cricket Australia's centre of excellence in Brisbane.
England bowling coach David Saker withdrew from the running as Cooley's successor on Friday, the Australian announcing he had signed a new three-year deal with the England and Wales Cricket Board.
"Right now we're clearly not on top and we need to find a way to get back on top as quickly as we can," Sutherland told reporters.
"We do a review every year irrespective of whether we have a good year or a bad year.
"This has been a bad series and it's a reason for us to have a very good look at where we're up to, what we do, how we can get better, how we can get back on top.
"I'm firmly of the view that you can't expect to get back on top by doing the same things and just simply plugging away.
"You have to look at where you're up to, how things are delivered and your approach and that will certainly be part of a review that will happen in the coming weeks.
"It's not something that will happen overnight, it needs to be fully endorsed by the board, but in due course we will find ourselves in the midst of a review."
