The Ashes-holders went into the match on the back of wins by 14 and 347
runs in the first two Tests at Trent Bridge and Lord's respectively.
"It's obviously a great feeling if a slightly strange feeling today,"
Cook said. "We were behind the eight ball for quite a lot of this game,
but we fought hard today and had a little bit of luck with the weather.
"It's certainly nice to retain the Ashes."
"I think it's been a really good series," Cook added. "At Lord's we played really well. Trent Bridge was a nailbiting game and we were glad to get on the right side of that result."
"This game, it was an important toss to win but fair play to Australia, the way they played put us under a lot of pressure, getting 500 and plenty in that first innings, but we responded pretty well with the bat and fought hard," Cook said of an England first innings 368 featuring Kevin Pietersen's 113.
"Obviously the weather hasn't been ideal today but you can't predict that. It hasn't quite got the atmosphere because of that, but the feeling in the dressing room now is a very pleasant one," Cook, out for nought on Monday, added.
"We set out to retain the Ashes and we've done that. After three Test matches I would have snapped your hand off to be in this position," he said. "Now we want to go and win the series."
Australian captain Clarke said. "I don't want to take anything away from England, they played good cricket and deserved to be 2-0 up,"
"That's the price you pay if you go 2-0 down in England, there's always a chance of a bit of rain and we've paid the price.
"But I'm proud of the way we've fought in this Test match."
As for his century, Clarke said: "I'd rather make a duck and have won the Test match."
"It's obviously a great feeling if a slightly strange feeling today,"
Cook said. "We were behind the eight ball for quite a lot of this game,
but we fought hard today and had a little bit of luck with the weather."It's certainly nice to retain the Ashes."
"I think it's been a really good series," Cook added. "At Lord's we played really well. Trent Bridge was a nailbiting game and we were glad to get on the right side of that result."
"This game, it was an important toss to win but fair play to Australia, the way they played put us under a lot of pressure, getting 500 and plenty in that first innings, but we responded pretty well with the bat and fought hard," Cook said of an England first innings 368 featuring Kevin Pietersen's 113.
"Obviously the weather hasn't been ideal today but you can't predict that. It hasn't quite got the atmosphere because of that, but the feeling in the dressing room now is a very pleasant one," Cook, out for nought on Monday, added.
"We set out to retain the Ashes and we've done that. After three Test matches I would have snapped your hand off to be in this position," he said. "Now we want to go and win the series."
Australian captain Clarke said. "I don't want to take anything away from England, they played good cricket and deserved to be 2-0 up,"
"That's the price you pay if you go 2-0 down in England, there's always a chance of a bit of rain and we've paid the price.
"But I'm proud of the way we've fought in this Test match."
As for his century, Clarke said: "I'd rather make a duck and have won the Test match."
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