Matt Prior says the euphoria in the England dressing room barely died down after their victory at the MCG and already the focus turned to the next match in Sydney.

After retaining the Ashes with an innings and 157-run victory over Australia in Melbourne on Wednesday, the tourists will be looking to become the first English team since 1986/87 to win a series Down Under.

Wicketkeeper Prior says although captain Andrew Strauss urged the squad to enjoy the celebrations, many of the players have already switched their attention to the final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

"It won't be difficult because we came here wanting to win the series," he said. "Already in the dressing room, amid all the elation, we have spoken about Sydney.

"We do not want to draw the series. We have played too much good cricket and worked too hard to be content with retaining the Ashes.

"That's not the way the team thinks. We've always wanted to push ourselves."

As for the feeling in the England camp after Wednesday's victory, Prior says it was "very special".

"It's a feeling that's very hard to describe," he said. "It has been well-reported how tight this group is.

"For those few seconds it is amazing how everything else disappears, the noise from the Barmy Army and everybody else.

"Without sounding cheesy or corny, in a moment like that all it's about is that unit because it hasn't just been a few weeks, it has been years of bonding as a group, the hardness of situations that brings you all together, guys not playing and management as well.

"For those few seconds it is about elation. To retain the Ashes and here we are all together, that's very special."