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Brisbane is not a city to give the Three Lions some much-needed hope for the Ashes

Following the loss to the hosts at the series start, the tourists have to bounce back for a trip to Brisbane's Gabba, a venue where England have not won for decades

Players representing England have often become lambs to the slaughter at the Gabbatoir

A Shining Knight's Triumph

Within recent memory of English disappointments, aspirations and players exists a motivational tale delivered by a cricket hero

It is exactly a decade and a half after Sir Alastair Cook conquered the Gabba with a career-defining 235 without loss, preserving the initial Test of 2010-11 and setting England on course toward their sole series victory on Australian soil in the past 38 years

Historic Achievement

This marked the start of Cook's triumphant Australian campaign; three hundred-plus scores totaling 766 runs

The legendary Hammond is the only Englishman to score more runs in a series on Australian soil

Victory came 3-1, with all victories by an innings

England hasn't achieved success at this venue since those glory days

Cook's Memories

"People overlook the difficult moments, the nervousness and anxiety that went into that," Cook recalls

"I reflect proudly. I made an important impact in a tournament that saw England triumphed 3-1 on Australian soil where each victory was achieved comprehensively"

Path to Success

His journey to his Australian epic began 18 months earlier at the end of the 2009 Ashes in England

Despite English victory, the opener scored under 25 per innings with just one score over fifty

He wanted more

"Despite cricket's collective nature, individual contribution does make you feel like you want to pull your weight," he states

Technical Transformation

Two days after the victory celebrations, he was back at work facing countless deliveries in practice with Graham Gooch

Beginning performances were encouraging

He scored three hundred-run innings on the 2009-10 winter tours in South Africa and Bangladesh

Pivotal Instances

After coming back to home soil during the 2010 season, the left-hander performed poorly

In eight innings against Bangladesh and Pakistan, his top innings reached only 29

On nought not out at the end of the second day of the third Test against Pakistan at the famous ground, Cook was convinced he was playing his concluding international appearance before being dropped

"There I was in the hospitality area, attempting to discover the answer by drowning sorrows," he confesses

Critical Moment

His century secured his place for the Australian tour

The team maintained preparations with two victories and one draw in practice matches down under

Come the first Test at the Gabba, they were hit by three wickets from Siddle

Historic Partnership

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

They reached 19-0 when play concluded and followed up through a demonstration engraved in cricket memory

"My memory doesn't retain the messages, our conversations," says Cook

The left-handers added 188 in their partnership

His unbeaten 235 represented the top score from an English player down under since the 1930s

Total Command

England exploited an astonishing first morning during the following Test in Adelaide

After Anderson also dismissed the opposition player, the score read 2-3 and never recovered

Cook followed up his Brisbane success by scoring 148 during a memorable Test highlighting Pietersen's dominance over the Australian attack

Ultimate Victory

Victory was possible the series in Western Australia, only for Mitchell Johnson to preview the destruction from future encounters

Then came possibly England's finest day during Ashes competition on Australian soil

At the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the enormous ground of Australian cricket, and on Boxing Day, the hosts were dismissed for 98

"If perfection existed for Boxing Day, that defined it. There was disbelief at the end of the day," recalls Cook

Ultimate Success

Motivated by purpose to win the urn, Cook excelled once more at the SCG

His 189 contributed to England's 644, their highest total in a Test in Australia

The question was not if England would win the game and series, but the timing

"The feeling was unbelievable," says Cook

"When Tremlett got the last player to secure victory, it was a moment of complete happiness"

Historical Significance

The batsman received top accolades

The subsequent seven years in his international career featured additional achievements

Post-cricket career, he received a knighthood for cricket contributions

"{I couldn't have played any better|