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The Queensland capital isn't a place that offers England badly required hope for the Ashes

Following the loss to the hosts at the series start, the tourists have to bounce back for a trip to the Gabba, a venue where England have not won since 1986

Players representing England have frequently been easy prey at the Gabbatoir

Cook's Memorable Achievement

Within recent memory of broken English hopes, hopes and athletes exists a motivational tale delivered by a cricket hero

This marks 15 years since Sir Alastair Cook dominated in Brisbane via a landmark unbeaten 235, preserving the initial Test during that famous series paving England's path for their unique Ashes triumph down under in the past 38 years

Unforgettable Series

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

Cricket great Hammond remains the sole English player with higher run totals in a series in this country

The English triumphed 3-1, with every win through innings victories

They have not won a Test here since those glory days

Cook's Memories

"You forget the challenging periods, the apprehension and concern accompanying that success," Cook recalls

"I reflect proudly. I played a significant part during a campaign where England triumphed 3-1 down under where each victory were won by an innings"

Journey to Excellence

His journey toward Australian glory began 18 months earlier at the end of the 2009 Ashes in England

Though England triumphed, Cook scored under 25 per innings managing only one innings exceeding half-century

He sought improvement

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

Technical Transformation

Just 48 hours following the triumphant events, he returned hitting hundreds and hundreds bowls during training with Graham Gooch

Beginning performances proved positive

Cook made three hundreds on overseas campaigns in South Africa and Bangladesh

Pivotal Instances

When Cook returned to British conditions for that year's summer, the left-hander performed poorly

Across eight appearances versus Bangladesh and Pakistan, his best performance totaled just 29 runs

Scoreless overnight at the end of the second day of the third Test facing Pakistan at the famous ground, Cook was convinced it might be his concluding international appearance ahead of potential omission

"I found myself in the bar, seeking the resolution through drinking," he reveals

The Turning Point

His century secured his place on the plane to Australia

Preparation continued by winning two and drawing one of their warm-up games in Australia

Come the first Test at the Gabba, they encountered Peter Siddle's hat-trick

Historic Partnership

Shortly prior to the end of the third day, the opening pair started the English reply needing to overcome 221 runs

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

"My memory doesn't retain specific guidance, anything of what we spoke about," recalls Cook

The left-handers contributed 188 for the first wicket

Cook's 235 not out represented the top score from an English player in Australia for 82 years

Series Dominance

The English took advantage of a remarkable opening session of the second Test in South Australia

When Anderson also nicked off Michael Clarke, the score read 2-3 and never recovered

The batsman proceeded his Queensland achievement through a 148-run innings during a memorable Test featuring Pietersen's destruction of the opposition bowlers

The Final Triumph

England could have retained the urn in Perth, but Mitchell Johnson to foreshadow the havoc he would cause four years later

What followed was arguably England's best performance during Ashes competition on Australian soil

At the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the massive stadium of sports down under, during Boxing Day, the hosts collapsed to 98 all out

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

Ultimate Success

Motivated by purpose to claim victory, the batsman performed brilliantly at the Sydney Cricket Ground

The 189-run innings contributed to England's 644, their highest total on Australian soil

The uncertainty wasn't if victory would come the match and the Ashes, but the timing

"The environment was electric," says Cook

"When Tremlett got the last player to win the match, that was a time of complete happiness"

Historical Significance

He earned series honors

The remaining seven years of his Test career featured additional achievements

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

"{I couldn't have played any better|