Ashes victory will help us grow as a team: Cook

England vice-captain Alastair Cook believes this year's Ashes victory will represent the start of a new era rather than the end of one like in 2005, and that the players will build on their success, starting with South Africa this winter.

The euphoria of winning Ashes four years ago quickly gave way to mediocrity and bad results as England were broken up by injury, illness and retirement in 2005.

This time around Cook is confident the players who recaptured the little urn in the summer will build on their success, The Mirror reports.

"After 2005 that side never played together again. This time, apart from Fred, most of the side will be around for some time to come and we can build on that. It gives us a lot of encouragement for what we need to do in the future and South Africa is such a big challenge it keeps our feet on the ground to build on what we did in the summer," Cook said.

"Without a doubt we can do something special and beat South Africa. Beating Australia was a huge thing, but now we can stay together and grow as a team," he added.

The two sides are set to play two Twenty20s, five One-dayers and four Tests that will last for over three months.

"It doesn't have the same hype as the Ashes but they are the No1 side in the world," Cook said.