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

After defeat by Australia during the opening match, the visiting team need to regroup ahead of visiting Brisbane's Gabba, a venue where the English haven't triumphed since 1986

Players representing England have habitually been easy prey at the Gabbatoir

A Shining Knight's Success

Throughout modern times of broken English hopes, aspirations and players exists a motivational tale delivered by a cricket hero

Today commemorates 15 years since Alastair Cook mastered the Gabba via a landmark 235 without loss, saving the first Test of 2010-11 paving England's path to their only Ashes series win in Australia during recent memory

Unforgettable Series

This marked the start of his successful tour of Australia; three hundreds accumulating 766 runs

Wally Hammond is the only Englishman to score more runs throughout a campaign down under

England won 3-1, where each success via comprehensive wins

The team hasn't secured success at this venue since that memorable series

Cook's Memories

"One tends to forget the tough times, the tension and worry that went into that," Cook recalls

"With pride I remember. I played a significant part in a tournament that saw the English secured a 3-1 victory down under and all three games came through innings wins"

Path to Success

The path to down under success commenced well before after the 2009 series on home soil

Though England triumphed, Cook scored under 25 per innings managing only one innings over fifty

He wanted more

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

Game Improvement

Shortly after the victory celebrations, he was back practicing numerous bowls during training under Graham Gooch's guidance

Beginning performances were encouraging

He scored three hundreds on the 2009-10 winter tours against South African and Bangladeshi teams

Crucial Turning Points

When Cook returned to British conditions during the 2010 season, the left-hander had a "stinker"

In eight innings versus Bangladesh and Pakistan, his best performance reached only 29

On nought not out at the end of the second day in the third match against Pakistan in London, Cook was convinced it might be his last Test innings ahead of potential omission

"I found myself in the bar, seeking the answer by drowning sorrows," he confesses

The Turning Point

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

Preparation continued with two victories and one draw in practice matches in Australia

Come the first Test in Brisbane, they were hit by three wickets from Siddle

Record-Breaking Stand

Just before the third day's close, both batsmen opened England's second innings with a deficit of 221 runs

The score stood at 19-0 at stumps and proceeded with a performance engraved in cricket memory

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

Both left-handed batsmen contributed 188 together

His unbeaten 235 stood as the best performance by an Englishman on Australian soil for 82 years

Total Command

The English took advantage of an astonishing first morning in the second match in South Australia

When Anderson also nicked off the opposition player, the score read 2-3 and struggled throughout

The batsman proceeded his Brisbane heroics with 148 in a Test remembered featuring Pietersen's destruction of the opposition bowlers

Ultimate Victory

England could have retained the series in Western Australia, but Mitchell Johnson to indicate the trouble from future encounters

The subsequent events included arguably England's best performance of Ashes cricket down under

At the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the massive stadium of Australian sport, and on Boxing Day, the hosts collapsed to 98 all out

"If perfection existed for Boxing Day, it was that. Incredulity reigned at the end of the day," recalls Cook

Series Conclusion

Fuelled by the focus to secure the Ashes, the batsman performed brilliantly at the SCG

His score of 189 contributed to England's 644, their highest total on Australian soil

The uncertainty wasn't if victory would come the game and series, but the timing

"The atmosphere was incredible," says Cook

"When Tremlett got the last player to win the match, it represented an instant of complete happiness"

Historical Significance

The batsman received top accolades

The remaining seven years of his Test career featured other milestones

Post-cricket career, he received a knighthood for services to cricket

"{I couldn't have played any better|