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Brisbane hasn't been a place that offers the English team badly required Ashes optimism

After defeat by Australia in the first Test, the tourists need to regroup for a trip to the Gabba, a ground where victory has eluded England for over thirty years

English cricketers have often become lambs to the slaughter at the Gabbatoir

Cook's Memorable Success

Among a recent history of dashed English dreams, dreams and bodies is a source of inspiration delivered by a cricket hero

It is exactly a decade and a half after the legendary Cook mastered the Gabba through a defining unbeaten 235, saving the first Test from the 2010-11 series and setting England on course toward their sole series victory in Australia over nearly four decades

Historic Achievement

It commenced of the victorious tour of Australia; three centuries and 766 runs

Wally Hammond stands as the only Briton who has made more runs during a Test series down under

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

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

Cook's Memories

"One tends to forget the challenging periods, the tension and worry involved in that achievement," Cook recalls

"I look back with pride. My contribution was substantial during a campaign where England triumphed 3-1 down under with every match were won by an innings"

Path to Success

The path to his Australian epic began 18 months earlier following the 2009 series on home soil

Despite English victory, the opening batsman had an average below 25 with just one score above 50

He sought improvement

"While cricket involves teamwork, individual contribution generates the feeling that you must contribute adequately," he states

Skill Development

Two days after the celebrations, he returned facing countless bowls during training with Graham Gooch

Beginning performances proved positive

Cook made three hundreds during winter tours in South Africa and Bangladesh

Crucial Turning Points

When Cook returned to home soil during the 2010 season, the batsman struggled significantly

Across eight appearances versus Bangladesh and Pakistan, his top innings was 29

On nought not out after the second day during the final Test versus Pakistan at the famous ground, Cook believed it might be his concluding international appearance ahead of potential omission

"I found myself at the bar, seeking the solution through drinking," he reveals

The Turning Point

His century guaranteed his seat on the plane to Australia

England continued their preparations by winning two and drawing one in practice matches in Australia

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

Historic Partnership

Just before the end of the third day, both batsmen began England's second batting effort needing to overcome 221 runs

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

"My memory doesn't retain specific guidance, our discussions," Cook remembers

Both left-handed batsmen contributed 188 together

His unbeaten 235 stood as the best performance by an Englishman down under since the 1930s

Total Command

The English took advantage of an incredible start of the second Test in South Australia

When Anderson also nicked off the Australian batsman, Australia were 2-3 and struggled throughout

The batsman proceeded his Brisbane success through a 148-run innings in a famous match featuring Pietersen's destruction of the Australian attack

The Final Triumph

Victory was possible the Ashes in Perth, but Mitchell Johnson to foreshadow the havoc from future encounters

What followed was perhaps England's single greatest day during Ashes competition in Australia

At the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the enormous ground of Australian sport, during Boxing Day, the Australian team were blown away for 98

"If Carlsberg did Boxing Days, this was it. There was disbelief as the day ended," recalls Cook

Ultimate Success

Driven by determination to secure the Ashes, the batsman performed brilliantly in Sydney

His score of 189 lifted England to 644, their record innings during Australian Tests

The question was not if England would win both match and urn, but when

"The environment was electric," says Cook

"After Tremlett dismissed the final batsman to secure victory, it represented an instant of complete happiness"

Legacy and Recognition

The batsman received top accolades

The following seven seasons of his Test career were illuminated by further accomplishments

Following his international retirement, he received a knighthood for cricket contributions

"{I couldn't have played any better|