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The Queensland capital isn't a city to give England crucial confidence in the series

In the wake of losing to Australia during the opening match, the visiting team need to regroup before heading to the Gabba, a ground where victory has eluded England for decades

Men wearing three lions have habitually been outmatched opponents in Brisbane

A Shining Knight's Success

Throughout modern times of dashed English dreams, aspirations and players exists a motivational tale delivered by an exceptional player

This marks 15 years since Sir Alastair Cook mastered the Gabba through a defining unbeaten 235, saving the first Test during that famous series paving England's path toward their sole series victory down under in the past 38 years

Unforgettable Series

It commenced of the victorious Australian campaign; three hundreds accumulating 766 runs

The legendary Hammond is the only Englishman who has made more runs during a Test series down under

The English triumphed 3-1, where each success by an innings

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

Cook's Memories

"You forget the challenging periods, the tension and worry accompanying that success," the cricketer reflects

"I look back with pride. My contribution was substantial in a tournament that saw England triumphed 3-1 in Australia with every match came through innings wins"

Path to Success

His journey to down under success started a year and a half before after the 2009 Ashes in England

England won, the opener had an average below 25 managing only one innings over fifty

He wanted more

"While cricket involves teamwork, personal performance does make you feel that you must contribute adequately," he explains

Skill Development

Just 48 hours following the triumphant events, he was back at work hitting hundreds and hundreds deliveries in practice under Graham Gooch's guidance

Beginning performances were encouraging

The batsman achieved three hundred-run innings on the 2009-10 winter tours against South African and Bangladeshi teams

Crucial Turning Points

After coming back to British conditions during the 2010 season, the batsman performed poorly

Across eight appearances facing these opponents, his best performance was 29

Scoreless overnight at the end of the second day's play of the third Test versus Pakistan at the famous ground, Cook believed it might be his concluding international appearance before being dropped

"There I was in the hospitality area, seeking the solution by drowning sorrows," he reveals

The Turning Point

His century ensured his position on the plane to Australia

Preparation continued through successful warm-ups in practice matches down under

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

Record-Breaking Stand

Shortly prior to day three's conclusion, the opening pair started the English reply needing to overcome 221 runs

They reached 19-0 at stumps and followed up with an exhibition engraved in cricket memory

"I don't remember specific guidance, our conversations," Cook remembers

The opening pair accumulated 188 runs in their partnership

The 235 without dismissal stood as the best performance achieved by a Briton in Australia for 82 years

Complete Control

England capitalised on an incredible start during the following Test at Adelaide

After Anderson also dismissed Michael Clarke, Australia were 2-3 and never recovered

Cook followed up his Brisbane success through a 148-run innings in a Test remembered featuring Pietersen's destruction of the Australian bowling

The Final Triumph

Victory was possible the urn in Perth, however Johnson to indicate the trouble that would come later

The subsequent events included possibly England's finest day of Ashes cricket in Australia

At the MCG, the enormous ground of Australian sport, and on Boxing Day, the home side collapsed to 98 all out

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

Ultimate Success

Driven by determination to secure the Ashes, Cook was at it again in Sydney

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

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

"The atmosphere was incredible," Cook remembers

"After Tremlett dismissed the last player to claim triumph, it represented an instant of pure elation"

Legacy and Recognition

The batsman received top accolades

The remaining seven years in his international career featured further accomplishments

After retiring internationally, Cook was knighted for sporting achievements

"{I couldn't have played any better|