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Brisbane is not a location providing the English team badly required hope for the Ashes

Following the loss to the Australian side at the series start, the visiting team have to bounce back before heading to Brisbane's Gabba, a ground where the English haven't triumphed since 1986

English cricketers have habitually been easy prey at this challenging venue

A Shining Knight's Success

Within recent memory of broken English hopes, aspirations and players lies an inspirational story achieved by a shining knight

It is exactly a decade and a half after Alastair Cook conquered 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 during recent memory

Unforgettable Series

This marked the start of Cook's triumphant circumnavigation of Australia; three hundreds totaling 766 runs

Cricket great Hammond is the only Englishman who has made more runs throughout a campaign down under

The English triumphed 3-1, with every win by an innings

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

Looking Back

"You forget the tough times, the apprehension and concern accompanying that success," Cook recalls

"I reflect proudly. My contribution was substantial in a series when the English secured a 3-1 victory on Australian soil with every match was achieved comprehensively"

The Road to Greatness

The path to down under success commenced well before at the end of the 2009 series in England

Despite English victory, the opener scored under 25 per innings managing only one innings over fifty

He wanted more

"Despite cricket's collective nature, personal performance does make you feel like you want to pull your weight," he notes

Game Improvement

Shortly after the victory celebrations, he returned practicing numerous of balls in the nets under Graham Gooch's guidance

The initial results proved positive

He scored three hundred-run innings on the 2009-10 winter tours to South Africa and Bangladesh

Pivotal Instances

Upon his return to England for the 2010 summer, Cook performed poorly

In eight innings versus Bangladesh and Pakistan, his highest score was 29

Scoreless overnight at the end of the second day during the final Test versus Pakistan at the famous ground, Cook was convinced it might be his concluding international appearance ahead of potential omission

"I was sitting in the hospitality area, seeking the solution by drowning sorrows," he confesses

The Turning Point

The 110-run innings ensured his position for the Australian tour

The team maintained preparations with two victories and one draw of their warm-up games down under

Come the first Test in Brisbane, they encountered three wickets from Siddle

Memorable Collaboration

An hour before the third day's close, the opening pair opened England's second innings needing to overcome 221 runs

The score stood at 19-0 at stumps and followed up through a demonstration remembered in Ashes history

"I cannot recall the messages, anything of what we spoke about," says Cook

The opening pair accumulated 188 runs in their partnership

Cook's 235 not out was the highest score by an Englishman down under in eight decades

Series Dominance

The English took advantage of an incredible start during the following Test at Adelaide

Following Anderson's additional wicket the Australian batsman, Australia were 2-3 and never recovered

The batsman proceeded his Brisbane success with 148 in a famous match highlighting Pietersen's dominance over the Australian bowling

The Final Triumph

England could have retained the urn in Perth, but Mitchell Johnson to foreshadow the havoc from future encounters

The subsequent events included perhaps England's single greatest day in Ashes history in Australia

In Melbourne, the 100,000-seater cathedral of Australian sport, during Boxing Day, the home side were dismissed for 98

"If Carlsberg did Boxing Days, it was that. Incredulity reigned as the day ended," recalls Cook

Ultimate Success

Motivated by purpose to claim victory, Cook excelled once more in Sydney

His 189 contributed to England's 644, their record innings in a Test in Australia

The question was not if victory would come the game and series, but when

"The atmosphere was incredible," recalls Cook

"Following Tremlett's wicket of the final batsman to claim triumph, it represented an instant of pure elation"

Historical Significance

Cook was player of the series

The remaining seven years of his cricket journey featured additional achievements

Post-cricket career, he received a knighthood for sporting achievements

"{I couldn't have played any better|