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Brisbane hasn't been a location providing the English team crucial hope for the Ashes

Following the loss to Australia in the first Test, the visiting team have to bounce back ahead of visiting Brisbane's Gabba, a stadium where the English haven't triumphed for decades

Players representing England have habitually been outmatched opponents at the Gabbatoir

A Shining Knight's Achievement

Within recent memory of English disappointments, hopes and athletes lies an inspirational story achieved by an exceptional player

Today commemorates a decade and a half after the legendary Cook conquered the Gabba through a defining unbeaten 235, rescuing the opening match from the 2010-11 series establishing England's trajectory toward their sole series victory in Australia over nearly four decades

Historic Achievement

It was the beginning of the victorious circumnavigation of Australia; three hundred-plus scores totaling 766 runs

Cricket great Hammond stands as the only Briton who has made more runs throughout a campaign on Australian soil

Victory came 3-1, with all victories via comprehensive wins

They have not won a Test here since that memorable series

Personal Reflections

"People overlook the challenging periods, the apprehension and concern accompanying that success," the cricketer reflects

"With pride I remember. I made an important impact in a tournament that saw England triumphed 3-1 in Australia where each victory was achieved comprehensively"

Path to Success

The path to his Australian epic began 18 months earlier at the end of the 2009 series in the UK

England won, the opener scored under 25 per innings achieving merely one performance exceeding half-century

He desired better

"While cricket involves teamwork, the individuality generates the feeling like you want to pull your weight," he notes

Game Improvement

Just 48 hours following the celebrations, he returned facing countless of balls in the nets with Graham Gooch

The initial results showed promise

Cook made three hundred-run innings during winter tours in South Africa and Bangladesh

Career-Defining Moments

After coming back to England for that year's summer, the batsman struggled significantly

Across eight appearances versus Bangladesh and Pakistan, his highest score was 29

Scoreless overnight following day two of the third Test against Pakistan at The Oval, the batsman felt certain it might be his concluding international appearance before being dropped

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

Decisive Instance

His century guaranteed his seat for the Australian tour

Preparation continued through successful warm-ups during preparatory contests down under

As the opening match began at the Gabba, they encountered Peter Siddle's hat-trick

Record-Breaking Stand

An hour before the third day's close, Cook and Strauss began England's second batting effort trailing by 221 runs

They achieved 19 without loss by day's end then continued with a performance engraved in cricket memory

"I don't remember any instructions, our conversations," Cook remembers

The opening pair added 188 together

Cook's 235 not out represented the top score by an Englishman down under since the 1930s

Series Dominance

The English took advantage of an astonishing first morning during the following Test in South Australia

When Anderson also nicked off the opposition player, Australia were 2-3 and couldn't recover

He continued his Brisbane success through a 148-run innings in a famous match featuring Pietersen's destruction of the opposition bowlers

The Final Triumph

England could have retained the series in Western Australia, however Johnson to preview the destruction that would come later

Then came arguably England's best performance of Ashes cricket down under

In Melbourne, the massive stadium of sports down under, on the holiday, the home side were dismissed for 98

"If perfection existed for Boxing Day, it was that. Amazement prevailed as the day ended," recalls Cook

Ultimate Success

Fuelled by the focus to win the urn, Cook excelled once more in Sydney

His 189 contributed to England's 644, their highest total in a Test in Australia

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

"The feeling was unbelievable," says Cook

"Following Tremlett's wicket of the final batsman to claim triumph, that was a time of absolute joy"

Historical Significance

Cook was player of the series

The subsequent seven years of his Test career were illuminated by further accomplishments

Following his international retirement, Cook was knighted for services to cricket

"{I couldn't have played any better|