Andrew Strauss said watching his side survive a collapse before scraping a one-wicket win over Australia with five balls left was a "horrendous" feeling.
England were all set to romp home at 185-3, needing 213 for an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.
But it went horribly wrong for a while and Strauss said: "We hit a couple of speed bumps in the first two one-dayers and today we hit a major one.
"There were some pretty nervous guys but Tim Bresnan got us over the line."
While Strauss, with 87, provided the main thrust for England's batting at Old Trafford, the victory was set up by the bowlers who dismissed Australia for their lowest score so far in the series.
"The spinners were outstanding, the guys reacted well to the conditions we were encountering, we put the batsmen under pressure and that is leading to wickets," said the England skipper.
"I think any series win against Australia is a big achievement and you have to dig pretty deep. Personally it's a great feeling to beat them but we are conscious there are areas we can improve in."
Graeme Swann took 4-37 with some fine spin bowling, and said he was pleased to be part of a team doing their utmost to avenge Australia's 6-1 series victory last year.
"It's exciting playing a very good Australian team and after losing so heavily last year we need to make a mark with the World Cup coming up," he said.
"I'm delighted to have bowled well but more important I am delighted we have wrapped up the series.
"We are playing confident cricket and it makes it an exciting place to be, the dressing room is buzzing and it should be."
Bresnan said the England dressing room was "a fairly jubilant" place as the team celebrated with bottles of beer ahead of the first of the two dead rubbers next Wednesday.
"Winning the series in three matches is a phenomenal effort," said the Yorkshireman.
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Talking through the final stages of the chase, he said: "I thought I was cool as a cucumber, or projecting that I was. It was going along all right when me and Swanny were batting, then he got out and Stuart Broad followed.
"When Jimmy Anderson came out I said, 'I've got to take most of the balls here'. We knew the wicket was playing a little bit slower than usual. We just said bat for 50 overs and we should be there or thereabouts."
Australia captain Ricky Ponting said the final two games of the series will represent a real challenge for his side.
"We have some work to do but it will be a good test of character for the guys," he said.
"We have done enough talking, it's about actions, standing up when the pressure is on. We have to work it out and work it out quickly."
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