Feature: Richie's final delivery

Michael Vaughan's side reclaimed the urn with a 2-1 victory after holding on for a draw at The Oval on Monday.

"I would say that England are probably the world's best team, now they have beaten Australia in a series," Benaud told the BBC's HARDtalk programme.

"For me, this series has been the best one ever, better even than in 1981."

He added: "It was just the sheer excitement and the position of the two teams, in that Australia had held the Ashes since 1989.

I think Andrew Flintoff is a future captain of England, at least for the one-day side Richie Benaud

"Suddenly, you had a series where the whole country was gripped by euphoria and Edgbaston, Old Trafford and Trent Bridge provided some of the most exciting stuff I've ever seen in my life.

"Even the first match, where Australia won easily, that was still a very good game to watch.

"The others, it was just hardly possible to believe all the twists and turns that came, it was so exciting to watch."

Benaud reserved special praise for man of the series Andrew Flintoff and he believes the Lancastrian should be rewarded for his heroic efforts by being given more responsibility.

"He lifted himself on several occasions through the series, when he knew he had to step up," said Benaud.

"I think he's a future captain of England, at least of the one-day side, and he should be vice-captain the next time they go touring for a bit of experience.

"He's a thinker. He thought a lot about what he wasn't doing right and has put it right, like trying to bat to the end of the innings."

Australia captain Ricky Ponting has come under enormous pressure back at home after losing the Ashes, but Benaud says he was hamstrung by a lack of options.

"We saw Shane Warne take 40 wickets which is phenomenal, but what was needed was another bowler performing in there because the attack couldn't stand up.

"I've never ever seen a winning captain with an ordinary bowling attack and that is what Ricky was faced with.