Andrew Flintoff backs England for world domination

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Flintoff, who is booked in tonight for a knee operation that will keep him out of action for several months, has now retired from Test cricket. However, he has no doubt that the team he leaves behind can go on to even bigger and better things.

"We've won the Ashes, which is fantastic," said Flintoff, who admitted to having a good celebration last night but looked a lot less hung-over than the bleary-eyed hero of 2005.

"If there is a lesson to be learned from the past then it's that now is the time to try to dominate the world of cricket as a Test team.

"We've got the players to do it and the captain to lead us in Andrew Strauss, and it is a realistic goal. Enjoy this week, get it out of your system and then move on — almost be Australia-like in the way they have gone about things.

"They have won series in the past and then continued to beat people. There is going to be a big test in the winter against South Africa and there are a lot of challenges in front of the team. But, with what we've got, we can live up to them."

But England team director Andy Flower was today keen to advise a note of caution to those dreaming of topping the world rankings.

"It is sensible to keep a lid on it," said the Zimbabwean. "We have a long way to go as a side, but we are still number five, so we have to work very hard to get where we want to be. We are mentally tough, but we are inconsistent, and that inconsistency has undoubtedly added interest to the series. We have to find that consistency if we are to fulfil our ambitions."

If England are to move onwards and upwards from No5 in the Test rankings then they may have to do it without Steve Harmison, who could retire from the international arena in the next week or so.

"Steve will make his own decisions but I would urge him to carry on and become one of England's all-time leading Test wicket-takers," said Flintoff of the 30-year-old who now has 226 victims after picking up three at The Oval yesterday. "He can easily get 300 and then go on from there."