Michael Vaughan today insisted England still have some way to go before they can call themselves the best side in the world - even if they do claim an historic Ashes success at The Oval.

The England captain was rightly proud of his side's fightback from their crushing 239-run defeat in the opening Test at Lord's to claim a 2-1 advantage in the series prior to the final npower Test which was due to start today.

If England avoid defeat they will claim their first Ashes series triumph since 1986-7 and put a severe dent in Australia's undisputed claim to be the best side in world cricket.

But even if victory is achieved, Vaughan does not believe that will automatically establish England as the world's dominant force. He claims his side still have to develop further before they can take that accolade from Australia.

"I think you have to be playing against and winning against the top teams to be that," claimed Vaughan. "We play India and Pakistan away this winter and Australia have been over to those countries and won.

"Our side have not done that yet. It will be a stepping stone trying to get there, but I don't think we can regard ourselves as the best in the world just yet."

Should England triumph in the final Test, they can certainly claim to have beaten Australia's strongest line-up for the first time in the series after veteran seamer Glenn McGrath - who was injured for his side's defeats at Edgbaston and Trent Bridge - was confirmed in Ricky Ponting's line-up.

By contrast, England are without Glamorgan seamer Simon Jones, who injured his right ankle at Trent Bridge, and will choose between the merits of Durham all-rounder Paul Collingwood and Lancashire seamer James Anderson for his replacement.

England also have to contend with the greater expectations of leading an Ashes series going into the final Test, a situation they have not occupied since Australia claimed ownership of the urn back in 1989.

Vaughan said: "We have got the whole country talking about cricket, everyone is writing and having their opinion. I don't see any reason why this young team should not go out and play the same game they have done over the past few weeks."