🔗 Share this article

Brisbane is not a place that offers England some much-needed hope for the Ashes

Following the loss to the hosts during the opening match, the tourists must stir themselves for a trip to the Gabba, a venue where victory has eluded England for decades

Men wearing three lions have often become lambs to the slaughter at this challenging venue

Cook's Memorable Success

Within recent memory of broken English hopes, hopes and athletes exists a motivational tale delivered by an exceptional player

It is exactly a decade and a half after Sir Alastair Cook conquered the Gabba through a defining unbeaten 235, rescuing the opening match of 2010-11 and setting England on course to their only Ashes series win on Australian soil over nearly four decades

Historic Achievement

It was the beginning of his successful tour of Australia; three hundred-plus scores totaling 766 runs

Wally Hammond is the only Englishman who has made more runs in a series on Australian soil

England won 3-1, with every win through innings victories

They have not won a Test here since that historic campaign

Cook's Memories

"People overlook the challenging periods, the apprehension and concern that went into that," the cricketer reflects

"With pride I remember. I made an important impact in a tournament that saw England won 3-1 down under where each victory came through innings wins"

Path to Success

His journey toward Australian glory began 18 months earlier following the 2009 series in England

Despite English victory, the opening batsman scored under 25 per innings managing only one innings exceeding half-century

He wanted more

"While cricket involves teamwork, personal performance creates the sensation that personal responsibility matters," he states

Game Improvement

Two days after the triumphant events, he was back at work practicing numerous deliveries in practice alongside Graham Gooch

The initial results proved positive

The batsman achieved three centuries on overseas campaigns in South Africa and Bangladesh

Career-Defining Moments

When Cook returned to England for that year's summer, the left-hander had a "stinker"

Across eight appearances against Bangladesh and Pakistan, his top innings totaled just 29 runs

On nought not out at the end of the second day of the third Test versus Pakistan at The Oval, Cook was convinced it might be his last Test innings before being dropped

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

Decisive Instance

Cook's 110 guaranteed his seat on the plane to Australia

England continued their preparations through successful warm-ups during preparatory contests in Australia

Come the first Test in Brisbane, they faced Peter Siddle's hat-trick

Historic Partnership

Shortly prior to the end of the third day, Cook and Strauss began England's second batting effort trailing by 221 runs

They achieved 19 without loss when play concluded and proceeded with a performance remembered in Ashes history

"I don't remember the messages, anything of what we spoke about," says Cook

Both left-handed batsmen added 188 in their partnership

The 235 without dismissal was the highest score from an English player on Australian soil since the 1930s

Complete Control

England exploited an incredible start during the following Test in South Australia

After Anderson also dismissed the opposition player, Australia were 2-3 and never recovered

The batsman proceeded his Brisbane success by scoring 148 in a famous match highlighting Pietersen's dominance over the opposition bowlers

Ultimate Victory

England could have retained the series in Western Australia, only for Mitchell Johnson to indicate the trouble from future encounters

The subsequent events included perhaps England's single greatest day during Ashes competition on Australian soil

In Melbourne, the massive stadium of Australian cricket, and on Boxing Day, the home side collapsed to 98 all out

"If Carlsberg did Boxing Days, it was that. Incredulity reigned when play concluded," Cook remembers

The Final Victory

Fuelled by the focus to claim victory, the batsman performed brilliantly in Sydney

His 189 lifted England to 644, their highest total in a Test in Australia

The question was not whether England would triumph the match and the Ashes, rather when

"The environment was electric," says Cook

"Following Tremlett's wicket of Michael Beer to secure victory, it was a moment of pure elation"

Legacy and Recognition

He earned series honors

The remaining seven years in his international career featured additional achievements

After retiring internationally, he received a knighthood for sporting achievements

"{I couldn't have played any better|