Hayden, who hit the winning runs to seal Australia's first Ashes whitewash in 86 years, said no team in international cricket could have stopped the Australians from winning.

England's players and management have been savaged by their own media and former internationals after being thumped 5-0.

"There was nothing that was going to stand in the way of this Australian side," Hayden told reporters on Saturday.

"It has the ability, it has the talent, plus the respect for the game."

Hayden said the Australians had initially been motivated by their shock loss to England in 2005 then the retirements of Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Justin Langer.

But the broad-shouldered Hayden said that while the hype over their 5-0 win over England was understandable, Australia's players did not consider it their finest achievement.

Hayden said the team's proudest moment was beating India on the sub-continent in 2004.

"The capacity to win in another country under duress of opposition tactics and their entire country was perhaps the best team result that we've had," Hayden said.

"But as a sporting experience and the euphoria of a series, this would certainly be number one."