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Brisbane hasn't been a city to give England badly required hope for the Ashes

Following the loss to the hosts at the series start, England must stir themselves before heading to the Gabba, a ground where victory has eluded England for decades

English cricketers have habitually been lambs to the slaughter at the Gabbatoir

A Shining Knight's Success

Among a recent history of dashed English dreams, dreams and bodies exists a motivational tale provided by a cricket hero

This marks the 15th anniversary of Sir Alastair Cook mastered the Gabba with a career-defining 235 not out, rescuing the opening match of 2010-11 establishing England's trajectory to their only Ashes series win down under in the past 38 years

Historic Achievement

It was the beginning of Cook's triumphant circumnavigation of Australia; three centuries and 766 runs

Wally Hammond stands as the only Briton to score more runs during a Test series in this country

Victory came 3-1, where each success by an innings

England hasn't achieved success at this venue since that memorable series

Cook's Memories

"People overlook the tough times, the apprehension and concern accompanying that success," Cook remembers

"I reflect proudly. My contribution was substantial during a campaign where the English secured a 3-1 victory down under where each victory were won by an innings"

Journey to Excellence

Cook's road toward Australian glory started a year and a half before at the end of that year's Ashes in the UK

Despite English victory, the opening batsman scored under 25 per innings with just one score exceeding half-century

He sought improvement

"Cricket is a team game, individual contribution generates the feeling that personal responsibility matters," he notes

Game Improvement

Two days after the victory celebrations, he was back practicing numerous of balls in the nets alongside Graham Gooch

Early outcomes were encouraging

He scored three hundreds during winter tours in South Africa and Bangladesh

Crucial Turning Points

After coming back to British conditions during the 2010 season, the left-hander had a "stinker"

Across eight appearances facing these opponents, his top innings reached only 29

Without runs at the end of the second day of the third Test facing Pakistan at the famous ground, Cook was convinced he was playing his last Test innings prior to selection

"I was sitting in the bar, trying to find the resolution in the bottom of a beer bottle," he confesses

Decisive Instance

Cook's 110 guaranteed his seat for the Australian tour

England continued their preparations with two victories and one draw in practice matches in Australia

As the opening match began in Brisbane, they were hit by three wickets from Siddle

Memorable Collaboration

An hour before day three's conclusion, both batsmen opened England's second innings trailing by 221 runs

They achieved 19 without loss by day's end then continued with a performance etched in Ashes folklore

"My memory doesn't retain any instructions, our conversations," recalls Cook

The left-handers accumulated 188 runs in their partnership

The 235 without dismissal represented the top score by an Englishman down under since the 1930s

Series Dominance

England capitalised on an incredible start in the second match at Adelaide

After Anderson also dismissed the Australian batsman, the score read 2-3 and struggled throughout

The batsman proceeded his Queensland achievement by scoring 148 during a memorable Test featuring Pietersen's destruction of the Australian bowling

The Final Triumph

Victory was possible the urn in Perth, only for Mitchell Johnson to foreshadow the havoc he would cause four years later

The subsequent events included possibly England's finest day of Ashes cricket in Australia

At the MCG, the enormous ground of Australian sport, and on Boxing Day, the Australian team collapsed to 98 all out

"If perfection existed for Boxing Day, that defined it. There was disbelief when play concluded," says Cook

The Final Victory

Fuelled by the focus to secure the Ashes, the batsman performed brilliantly in Sydney

His score of 189 contributed to England's 644, their best score during Australian Tests

The debate didn't concern whether England would triumph both match and urn, rather when

"The feeling was unbelievable," says Cook

"After Tremlett dismissed Michael Beer to secure victory, that was a time of absolute joy"

Enduring Impact

He earned series honors

The remaining seven years in his international career included further accomplishments

Following his international retirement, he was honored for sporting achievements

"{I couldn't have played any better|