🔗 Share this article

Brisbane hasn't been a place that offers the Three Lions crucial hope for the Ashes

In the wake of losing to Australia during the opening match, the visiting team need to regroup ahead of visiting the famous Gabba, a venue where the English haven't triumphed for over thirty years

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

Cook's Memorable Achievement

Within recent memory of English disappointments, hopes and athletes exists a motivational tale achieved by a shining knight

Today commemorates the 15th anniversary of Sir Alastair Cook conquered the Gabba with a career-defining 235 not out, preserving the initial Test from the 2010-11 series paving England's path to their only Ashes series win down under during recent memory

Historic Achievement

It commenced of Cook's triumphant circumnavigation of Australia; three centuries totaling 766 runs

Cricket great Hammond remains the sole English player who has made more runs throughout a campaign on Australian soil

The English triumphed 3-1, where each success via comprehensive wins

England hasn't achieved a Test here since those glory days

Cook's Memories

"People overlook the difficult moments, the apprehension and concern accompanying that success," Cook remembers

"I reflect proudly. My contribution was substantial during a campaign where the English secured a 3-1 victory on Australian soil and all three games were won by an innings"

Journey to Excellence

His journey to down under success began 18 months earlier at the end of the 2009 Ashes on home soil

Despite English victory, the opener averaged less than 25 managing only one innings above 50

He sought improvement

"Despite cricket's collective nature, personal performance generates the feeling that you must contribute adequately," he states

Skill Development

Just 48 hours following the triumphant events, he returned hitting hundreds and hundreds deliveries in practice with Graham Gooch

Beginning performances proved positive

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

Crucial Turning Points

After coming back to England for that year's summer, the left-hander had a "stinker"

During eight batting opportunities versus Bangladesh and Pakistan, his best performance reached only 29

Scoreless overnight after the second day's play during the final Test against Pakistan in London, the batsman felt certain this would be his concluding international appearance before being dropped

"I was sitting in the bar, attempting to discover the answer by drowning sorrows," he admits

The Turning Point

Cook's 110 secured his place on the plane to Australia

Preparation continued with two victories and one draw in practice matches down under

Come the first Test at the famous ground, they faced three wickets from Siddle

Memorable Collaboration

Shortly prior to the third day's close, the opening pair opened England's second innings needing to overcome 221 runs

They achieved 19 without loss at stumps and followed up with an exhibition engraved in cricket memory

"I don't remember any instructions, anything of what we spoke about," recalls Cook

The opening pair contributed 188 together

The 235 without dismissal stood as the best performance from an English player in Australia for 82 years

Total Command

The English took advantage of a remarkable opening session during the following Test at Adelaide

After Anderson also dismissed Michael Clarke, the score read 2-3 and struggled throughout

The batsman proceeded his Brisbane heroics through a 148-run innings in a Test remembered featuring Pietersen's destruction of the Australian bowling

The Final Triumph

The English might have secured the series in Western Australia, however Johnson to indicate the trouble that would come later

The subsequent events included possibly England's finest day during Ashes competition down under

In Melbourne, the 100,000-seater cathedral of Australian sport, during Boxing Day, the hosts were blown away for 98

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

The Final Victory

Motivated by purpose to secure the Ashes, Cook was at it again in Sydney

The 189-run innings lifted England to 644, their highest total on Australian soil

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

"The feeling was unbelievable," says Cook

"Following Tremlett's wicket of Michael Beer to win the match, that was a time of complete happiness"

Enduring Impact

The batsman received top accolades

The remaining seven years in his international career featured further accomplishments

After retiring internationally, he was honored for services to cricket

"{I couldn't have played any better|