Ashes reaction: Mike Gatting has no sympathy for Australia

(GETTY IMAGES)

Former England captain Mike Gatting has little sympathy for Australia after they succumbed to a record Ashes defeat on home turf.

England became the first team to record three innings defeats in a series on their rivals' home turf as they rounded off a brilliant Ashes campaign 3-1 with victory in Sydney.

It is the first time in 24 years England have tasted such success in Australia and Gatting, who bowed out of Test cricket in the 1994-95 series defeat Down Under, has little sympathy for the hosts after so many years of glory.

Gatting told Sky News: "I would never say 'poor old Australians', let's remember what's happened over the last 24 years or so. So don't ever say 'poor old Australians' to me!

"They have got a bit of head-scratching to do, as we have had before. So don't feel too sorry for them, our guys have done a lot of hard work to get where they are, there are a lot of good people behind the scenes doing a lot of hard work too.

"So they've got some work to do now as we've had to do over the last 10, 20 or so years to get ourselves to where we are now. They've got the same thing to do. I'm sure they'll do it because there's nothing like an Ashes series.

"The guys can be very, very proud of what they've done."

Australia legend Shane Warne, who was outlandishly tipped for a recall to boost the ailing hosts midway through the series, admitted the superior side had prevailed.

Warne told Sky Sports 1: "Congratulations to England, they played better cricket.

"These guys have come in and the one thing that stands out is the attitude and the belief they can win.

"They said 'we're going to try and win every game we possibly can' and they just about have.

"Also the urgency they played with, the passion and the pride."

He continued: "You can criticise Australia and say they've been poor but England haven't allowed them to play.

"To lose by an innings three times is a massive, heavy defeat and that's what has hurt.

"If they'd showed everything they've got and made it close that would have been something but they haven't."

Prime Minister David Cameron said the "whole country is incredibly proud" of the England cricket team.

He said: "I've spoken to Andrew Strauss this morning and congratulated the team, coaches and everyone behind the side on this tremendous victory.

"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."

Hugh Robertson, Minister for Sport and the Olympics, said: "Congratulations to the England cricket team and everyone at the ECB for winning the Ashes in such style in Sydney this morning.

"It caps a terrific year for English cricket following on from the T20 World Cup triumph and has given the whole country the most incredible lift. We're all very proud of them."