Andrew Strauss was rightly proud and delighted to receive an OBE for his part in the Ashes - once he realised the letter on his doormat was not a gas bill.

The England captain and his fellow 2010/11 Ashes winners Andy Flower and Alastair Cook have all been recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours List after their historic triumph in Australia last winter.

Strauss, already an MBE after helping England to beat Australia for the first time in a generation in 2005, and coach Flower are both OBEs.

Opening batsman Cook, whose astounding tally of 766 runs in England's 3-1 success down under stands second among English batsmen only to the deeds of the great Wally Hammond, has received an MBE.

Strauss spoke of his pride, personally and on behalf of his two colleagues and the rest of his team-mates and coaching staff.

"It is a great honour to receive this accolade," he said.

"It's one of the better items of post you get through the letterbox - certainly better than a gas bill."

Strauss has managed to keep the award secret, as requested, from all but his wife Ruth.

"They do ask you not to tell people about it, keep it under your hat," he said.

"I did tell my wife, but not anyone else. But it is always fantastic when it is announced, and then to go and receive it.

"I'm very proud to receive it and, more than anything, very proud of how the team performed out there in Australia.

"Our guys really stood up under the pressure."

Strauss is hoping his team can go on to still greater heights - world number one Test status is their principal ambition - and kickstart an era of English cricketing success after a first series win in Australia since 1986/87.

"All of us who were involved in it did feel part of something special.

"We hope England will go on and do it again a number of times.

"But to win by an innings in three of five games it will take something really extraordinary in the rest of my career to eclipse that.

"It is fantastic to have been part of the management, and captaining the side. But the most satisfying thing is the players we had and how they rose to the challenges and played so well, as they can.

"When you are fortunate enough to be in this position, you want to make the absolute most of every opportunity.

"It is wonderful to receive OBEs and MBEs.

"We have achieved something but are nowhere near the end of the road yet, and will continue to strive to improve."

Cook began the Ashes last November under the microscope among many pundits who believed he was worryingly short of runs at the top of the order.

But he produced a match-saving, unbeaten double-hundred in the second innings of the first Test at Brisbane - and has scarcely looked back since. ‘‘None of us in the side ever had any worries about him,'' said his captain.

"But for what he achieved out there, he deserves every accolade he gets.

"It is a lot of pressure anyway. But when you feel you need to justify your place in the side it makes it even harder.

"Alastair has a great strength of character. We were all delighted for him then, and we are now."

Flower first took over as England coach, alongside new captain Strauss, in January 2009.

Defeat followed in their first series together in the West Indies. But they too have enjoyed conspicuous success at almost every turn since.

"We've had some really good times," added Strauss.

"Andy has been a very central figure in everything.

"He is constantly challenging the players to keep improving, keep producing their best - and making sure we are as well prepared as any England team ever has been."