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Brisbane is not a place that offers England badly required confidence in the series

Following the loss to the Australian side during the opening match, the tourists need to regroup for a trip to the Gabba, a venue where the English haven't triumphed for over thirty years

Men wearing three lions have habitually been lambs to the slaughter in Brisbane

The Inspirational Triumph

Among a recent history of English disappointments, aspirations and players lies an inspirational story delivered by a shining knight

This marks 15 years since the legendary Cook dominated in Brisbane with a career-defining 235 not out, rescuing the opening match of 2010-11 and setting England on course to their only Ashes series win on Australian soil in the past 38 years

Unforgettable Series

This marked the start of his successful circumnavigation of Australia; three hundreds and 766 runs

Wally Hammond remains the sole English player with higher run totals during a Test series on Australian soil

The English triumphed 3-1, with all victories through innings victories

England hasn't achieved a Test victory there since that memorable series

Personal Reflections

"People overlook the challenging periods, the tension and worry accompanying that success," Cook remembers

"With pride I remember. My contribution was substantial in a tournament that saw England triumphed 3-1 down under with every match came through innings wins"

Path to Success

His journey to down under success commenced well before after the 2009 series on home soil

England won, the opening batsman averaged less than 25 achieving merely one performance above 50

He sought improvement

"Despite cricket's collective nature, personal performance creates the sensation that you must contribute adequately," he explains

Game Improvement

Shortly after the triumphant events, he returned hitting hundreds and hundreds of balls in the nets with Graham Gooch

The initial results showed promise

The batsman achieved three hundred-run innings during winter tours against South African and Bangladeshi teams

Crucial Turning Points

Upon his return to England for the 2010 summer, Cook struggled significantly

Across eight appearances facing these opponents, his highest score totaled just 29 runs

Scoreless overnight after day two during the final Test facing Pakistan at The Oval, Cook believed this would be his concluding international appearance ahead of potential omission

"There I was in the bar, trying to find the resolution by drowning sorrows," he reveals

Critical Moment

His century secured his place on the plane to Australia

Preparation continued by winning two and drawing one during preparatory contests on Australian soil

Come the first Test in Brisbane, they faced Peter Siddle's hat-trick

Memorable Collaboration

Just before the end of the third day, the opening pair began England's second batting effort with a deficit of 221 runs

They reached 19-0 when play concluded and proceeded with a performance remembered in Ashes history

"My memory doesn't retain specific guidance, our conversations," says Cook

Both left-handed batsmen accumulated 188 runs in their partnership

Cook's 235 not out represented the top score achieved by a Briton in Australia in eight decades

Complete Control

England capitalised on an astonishing first morning of the second Test in Adelaide

After Anderson also dismissed Michael Clarke, the hosts stood at 2-3 and never recovered

He continued his Brisbane success by scoring 148 in a famous match for Kevin Pietersen dismantling the Australian attack

Series Conclusion

Victory was possible the series in Western Australia, however Johnson to foreshadow the havoc he would cause four years later

The subsequent events included perhaps England's single greatest day in Ashes history on Australian soil

In Melbourne, the massive stadium of Australian cricket, on the holiday, the Australian team collapsed to 98 all out

"If Carlsberg did Boxing Days, it was that. Amazement prevailed at the end of the day," says Cook

Ultimate Success

Fuelled by the focus to win the urn, Cook was at it again at the SCG

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

The question was not whether England would triumph the game and series, rather when

"The feeling was unbelievable," recalls Cook

"When Tremlett got the final batsman to secure victory, that was a time of complete happiness"

Legacy and Recognition

The batsman received top accolades

The subsequent seven years in his international career were illuminated by further accomplishments

After retiring internationally, he was honored for services to cricket

"{I couldn't have played any better|