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Brisbane is not a city to give England badly required Ashes optimism

In the wake of losing to the hosts at the series start, the visiting team have to bounce back before heading to the Gabba, a stadium where victory has eluded England for over thirty years

Players representing England have habitually been easy prey at this challenging venue

The Inspirational Triumph

Throughout modern times of dashed English dreams, hopes and athletes exists a motivational tale achieved by a cricket hero

It is exactly a decade and a half after Sir Alastair Cook conquered the Gabba through a defining 235 not out, preserving the initial Test of 2010-11 and setting England on course for their unique Ashes triumph down under in the past 38 years

Unforgettable Series

It commenced of the victorious Australian campaign; three hundreds accumulating 766 runs

Cricket great Hammond is the only Englishman to score more runs during a Test series on Australian soil

England won 3-1, with every win via comprehensive wins

The team hasn't secured success at this venue since those glory days

Personal Reflections

"One tends to forget the difficult moments, the nervousness and anxiety that went into that," Cook recalls

"With pride I remember. I played a significant part in a series when the English secured a 3-1 victory on Australian soil and all three games was achieved comprehensively"

Path to Success

His journey to down under success commenced well before following the 2009 Ashes in the UK

Though England triumphed, Cook had an average below 25 managing only one innings over fifty

He sought improvement

"While cricket involves teamwork, personal performance does make you feel that you must contribute adequately," he states

Skill Development

Just 48 hours following the celebrations, he was back hitting hundreds and hundreds deliveries in practice under Graham Gooch's guidance

Beginning performances showed promise

Cook made three hundred-run innings on the 2009-10 winter tours in South Africa and Bangladesh

Crucial Turning Points

When Cook returned to England for that year's summer, the left-hander performed poorly

During eight batting opportunities against Bangladesh and Pakistan, his highest score was 29

Scoreless overnight following the second day's play during the final Test against Pakistan in London, the batsman felt certain this would be his concluding international appearance before being dropped

"I was sitting in the bar, seeking the solution in the bottom of a beer bottle," he confesses

Decisive Instance

The 110-run innings ensured his position in the squad down under

Preparation continued through successful warm-ups during preparatory contests in Australia

As the opening match began at the Gabba, they faced three wickets from Siddle

Memorable Collaboration

Shortly prior to day three's conclusion, the opening pair opened England's second innings needing to overcome 221 runs

They achieved 19 without loss by day's end then continued through a demonstration remembered in Ashes history

"I don't remember specific guidance, our discussions," says Cook

Both left-handed batsmen added 188 together

Cook's 235 not out stood as the best performance from an English player in Australia for 82 years

Total Command

England exploited an incredible start of the second Test in Adelaide

After Anderson also dismissed the opposition player, the score read 2-3 and struggled throughout

The batsman proceeded his Queensland achievement by scoring 148 in a Test remembered for Kevin Pietersen dismantling the opposition bowlers

The Final Triumph

Victory was possible the series in Western Australia, but Mitchell Johnson to foreshadow the havoc from future encounters

The subsequent events included possibly England's finest day of Ashes cricket on Australian soil

At the MCG, the enormous ground of sports down under, and on Boxing Day, the hosts collapsed to 98 all out

"If perfection existed for Boxing Day, that defined it. Incredulity reigned at the end of the day," Cook remembers

Ultimate Success

Motivated by purpose to claim victory, the batsman performed brilliantly in Sydney

His score of 189 helped England reach 644, their best score during Australian Tests

The debate didn't concern whether England would triumph both match and urn, but the timing

"The atmosphere was incredible," says Cook

"After Tremlett dismissed Michael Beer to secure victory, that was a time of complete happiness"

Legacy and Recognition

Cook was player of the series

The subsequent seven years of his Test career featured additional achievements

After retiring internationally, Cook was knighted for sporting achievements

"{I couldn't have played any better|