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Brisbane hasn't been a place that offers the English team some much-needed Ashes optimism

In the wake of losing to Australia at the series start, England have to bounce back before heading to Brisbane's Gabba, a venue where the English haven't triumphed since 1986

English cricketers have often become lambs to the slaughter in Brisbane

Cook's Memorable Triumph

Within recent memory of English disappointments, hopes and athletes lies an inspirational story delivered by a cricket hero

Today commemorates 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 and setting England on course toward their sole series victory on Australian soil in the past 38 years

Record-Breaking Performance

It commenced of his successful circumnavigation of Australia; three hundred-plus scores accumulating 766 runs

Wally Hammond stands as the only Briton with higher run totals during a Test series down under

Victory came 3-1, with every win by an innings

The team hasn't secured a Test victory there since that historic campaign

Cook's Memories

"You forget the difficult moments, the nervousness and anxiety involved in that achievement," Cook recalls

"I reflect proudly. My contribution was substantial in a tournament that saw England won 3-1 down under with every match was achieved comprehensively"

Journey to Excellence

His journey to down under success commenced well before at the end of the 2009 series in the UK

England won, the opening batsman averaged less than 25 with just one score exceeding half-century

He desired better

"Cricket is a team game, individual contribution does make you feel that personal responsibility matters," he states

Skill Development

Just 48 hours following the triumphant events, he was back at work facing countless deliveries in practice alongside Graham Gooch

The initial results showed promise

The batsman achieved three hundreds during winter tours to South Africa and Bangladesh

Pivotal Instances

After coming back to British conditions during the 2010 season, the left-hander struggled significantly

In eight innings versus Bangladesh and Pakistan, his highest score totaled just 29 runs

Scoreless overnight after the second day during the final Test against Pakistan at the famous ground, Cook believed this would be his last Test innings before being dropped

"I found myself in the hospitality area, trying to find the answer by drowning sorrows," he reveals

The Turning Point

The 110-run innings secured his place for the Australian tour

Preparation continued through successful warm-ups in practice matches down under

When the first Test arrived at the Gabba, they faced a Siddle hat-trick

Historic Partnership

An hour before the third day's close, both batsmen started the English reply trailing by 221 runs

The score stood at 19-0 when play concluded and proceeded through a demonstration engraved in cricket memory

"I cannot recall any instructions, anything of what we spoke about," recalls Cook

The opening pair added 188 in their partnership

His unbeaten 235 was the highest score from an English player in Australia for 82 years

Series Dominance

The English took advantage of an incredible start in the second match at Adelaide

After Anderson also dismissed the Australian batsman, the score read 2-3 and couldn't recover

The batsman proceeded his Brisbane heroics by scoring 148 in a Test remembered featuring Pietersen's destruction of the Australian bowling

Series Conclusion

The English might have secured the series in Western Australia, only for Mitchell Johnson to preview the destruction he would cause four years later

Then came arguably England's best performance during Ashes competition on Australian soil

At the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the enormous ground of Australian cricket, during Boxing Day, the Australian team collapsed to 98 all out

"If perfection existed for Boxing Day, it was that. Amazement prevailed at the end of the day," says Cook

The Final Victory

Driven by determination to claim victory, the batsman performed brilliantly at the SCG

His 189 contributed to England's 644, their record innings on Australian soil

The debate didn't concern whether England would triumph the game and series, but when

"The environment was electric," Cook remembers

"Following Tremlett's wicket of Michael Beer to secure victory, it was a moment of complete happiness"

Enduring Impact

He earned series honors

The following seven seasons of his Test career included other milestones

After retiring internationally, he was honored for sporting achievements

"{I couldn't have played any better|