In the aftermath of their Ashes victory, England have every right to feel optimistic. Having beaten Australia without anybody playing well throughout the five matches — not even man-of-the-series Andrew Strauss — they believe there is such room for improvement that they can really go places.

Their point is valid. James Anderson and Graeme Swann went wicketless in two games. Stuart Broad started with four wickets in four innings. Away from Lord’s, Andrew Flintoff dismissed one out-of-sorts opener and a hapless tailender.

There were two centuries, England’s lowest tally in an Ashes-winning series since 1978-79. They were without Kevin Pietersen after the second Test. Even when he played, he did little by his standards.

England once knew they had to play at their best to beat Australia. Now, they just need to be better (and luckier, as they were in winning four tosses and escaping from Cardiff with a draw). As Strauss said: “When we were bad, we were very bad. When we were good, we were just good enough.”

They have a sturdy platform on which to build. Back in January, they were in turmoil, seeking a new captain and coach. They fell on their feet, a first piece of luck. Strauss and Andy Flower were the dream team who never dreamt, just two ultra-pragmatists devoid of ego, unlike their predecessors. Beating Australia has given them what they needed most, time and political clout.

They can foster a healthier ethos demanding higher standards of discipline and commitment. Flintoff has left the Test team and Strauss and Flower must now bid farewell to Flintoff’s close friend Steve Harmison, who has made plain he lacks the stomach for the long haul. Pick young, hungry men.

Pietersen has seen his wings clipped by England’s victory without him. He had no doubt come to believe that England could not manage without him — a natural assumption. His style of play has also been cast in a new light. Jonathan Trott, another player raised in South Africa, showed himself at The Oval to be everything Pietersen isn’t. His game was as sparse as his hair. No flamingos, no skunks, just credit-crunch cricket at its minimalist best.

Pietersen may be free of Flintoff’s shadow but during his absence his own has shortened. Strauss and Flower might reckon they now have him where they want him.

The captain and coach talk of aiming for world No 1 status, which is laudable but hardly original. Michael Vaughan and Duncan Fletcher said the same thing in 2005. What else do you say after beating Australia? Easily said. Not so easy to achieve. Rising from fifth to first in the rankings will take some doing.

England’s next four home series, in 2010 and 2011, pit them against the four Asian nations, who will challenge their ability to play spin. Meanwhile, away from home, in South Africa this winter and then in Australia next, they face ordeals of firepower against sides reliant on fast bowling on pitches with pace.

In reality, England will be judged on how they fare in South Africa and Australia and at home to Australia in 2013. The tours will be tough because they have lost five of their past seven series on foreign soil. And South Africa and Australia possess formidable home records in recent years, South Africa having won 23 of 30 series, Australia 25 of 29.

England’s bowlers have struggled because swing, which serves them so well at home, is generally less in evidence overseas. However, the ball does swing in Durban and Johannesburg, venues for the second and fourth Tests, and South African pitches generally have enough bounce in them to assist taller bowlers.

Even without Flintoff and Harmison, a pace attack of Anderson, Broad, Graham Onions and Ryan Sidebottom might serve well. But spin could also play a big part. Swann’s excellent record against left-handers could counter two key South Africans in Ashwell Prince and JP Duminy.

Adil Rashid’s leg spin might also help in working briskly through the lower order. Rashid potentially has a big part to play on Australia’s bouncier surfaces in 2010-11, in which case he must be blooded this winter.

South Africa face a fresh burden now they are ranked No 1. On paper, they are better than England. Their batting is unlikely to collapse in the way Australia’s did three times in four matches, while their fast bowling resources are deep.

Where England are ahead of Australia is in embracing their ethnic minorities. Come 2013 Ravi Bopara and Rashid, both of Asian extraction, and Craig Kieswetter, yet another of South African origin, could be sharing an Ashes-winning dressing room with Steve Finn and Chris Woakes.

England’s potential Ashes stars

ASHES IN AUSTRALIA, 2010-11

Adil Rashid (Yorkshire, 21) Has broken into England’s one-day sides and Test cricket is next step, probably this winter. Leg spinners tend to do well in Australia and his batting strengthens his case
Joe Denly (Kent, 23) Gifted right-handed opener who scored 67 on his ODI debut against Ireland last week. Could pose real threat to Alastair Cook’s Test place

ASHES IN ENGLAND, 2013

Steve Finn (Middlesex, 20) Tall fast bowler who might be entering pomp in 2013. Has taken 46 wickets at 29.1 each in the championship this season — only six bowlers have taken more wickets. Already on England’s radar
Chris Woakes (Warwickshire, 20) Allrounder who has already played for England Lions. Has scored 451 runs and taken 34 wickets this season. Like Finn, should be approaching best in 2013