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Brisbane hasn't been a location providing the English team crucial confidence in the series

After defeat by the hosts at the series start, the tourists must stir themselves for a trip to Brisbane's Gabba, a stadium where England have not won for decades

Players representing England have frequently been outmatched opponents at the Gabbatoir

Cook's Memorable Achievement

Among a recent history of broken English hopes, hopes and athletes exists a motivational tale provided by a cricket hero

Today commemorates the 15th anniversary of the legendary Cook conquered the Gabba with a career-defining unbeaten 235, rescuing the opening match of 2010-11 establishing England's trajectory for their unique Ashes triumph in Australia over nearly four decades

Unforgettable Series

It was the beginning of his successful tour of Australia; three hundreds accumulating 766 runs

Cricket great Hammond stands as the only Briton with higher run totals in a series on Australian soil

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

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

Cook's Memories

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

"With pride I remember. I made an important impact in a series when England triumphed 3-1 down under with every match was achieved comprehensively"

Path to Success

The path toward Australian glory began 18 months earlier following the 2009 Ashes in England

Despite English victory, Cook scored under 25 per innings managing only one innings above 50

He wanted more

"Cricket is a team game, personal performance does make you feel that personal responsibility matters," he explains

Game Improvement

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

Beginning performances proved positive

He scored three hundred-run innings during winter tours in South Africa and Bangladesh

Pivotal Instances

Upon his return to home soil for that year's summer, the batsman performed poorly

Across eight appearances facing these opponents, his top innings totaled just 29 runs

Scoreless overnight following the second day in the third match versus Pakistan at the famous ground, Cook was convinced it might be his last Test innings before being dropped

"There I was in the hospitality area, seeking the resolution in the bottom of a beer bottle," he confesses

Decisive Instance

Cook's 110 guaranteed his seat for the Australian tour

Preparation continued through successful warm-ups of their warm-up games in Australia

As the opening match began in Brisbane, they were hit by three wickets from Siddle

Historic Partnership

Shortly prior to the third day's close, the opening pair began England's second batting effort with a deficit of 221 runs

The score stood at 19-0 when play concluded then continued through a demonstration remembered in Ashes history

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

The left-handers contributed 188 for the first wicket

The 235 without dismissal represented the top score from an English player on Australian soil for 82 years

Total Command

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

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

Cook followed up his Brisbane heroics with 148 in a famous match featuring Pietersen's destruction of the Australian attack

The Final Triumph

The English might have secured the Ashes 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

In Melbourne, the enormous ground of Australian cricket, on the holiday, the home side were blown away for 98

"For ideal Boxing Days, that defined it. Amazement prevailed as the day ended," says Cook

Series Conclusion

Fuelled by the focus to secure the Ashes, the batsman performed brilliantly at the Sydney Cricket Ground

His 189 lifted England to 644, their record innings in a Test in Australia

The uncertainty wasn't if England would win the match and the Ashes, but when

"The feeling was unbelievable," recalls Cook

"Following Tremlett's wicket of Michael Beer to secure victory, that was a time of absolute joy"

Historical Significance

He earned series honors

The remaining seven years of his Test career included further accomplishments

Following his international retirement, Cook was knighted for sporting achievements

"{I couldn't have played any better|