🔗 Share this article

The Queensland capital isn't a city to give the English team badly required confidence in the series

In the wake of losing to the Australian side in the first Test, the visiting team need to regroup ahead of visiting Brisbane's Gabba, a venue where England have not won for over thirty years

English cricketers have frequently been easy prey at the Gabbatoir

Cook's Memorable Achievement

Within recent memory of English disappointments, dreams and bodies lies an inspirational story delivered by an exceptional player

It is exactly the 15th anniversary of Alastair Cook conquered the Gabba via a landmark unbeaten 235, saving the first Test of 2010-11 paving England's path for their unique Ashes triumph on Australian soil in the past 38 years

Record-Breaking Performance

It commenced of his successful circumnavigation of Australia; three centuries accumulating 766 runs

Wally Hammond remains the sole English player with higher run totals throughout a campaign on Australian soil

Victory came 3-1, where each success via comprehensive wins

They have not won success at this venue since that historic campaign

Cook's Memories

"You forget the difficult moments, the tension and worry involved in that achievement," the cricketer reflects

"I look back with pride. I played a significant part in a tournament that saw the English secured a 3-1 victory on Australian soil where each victory were won by an innings"

Journey to Excellence

The path to down under success started a year and a half before following the 2009 Ashes in England

Though England triumphed, Cook scored under 25 per innings with just one score above 50

He sought improvement

"Despite cricket's collective nature, the individuality generates the feeling like you want to pull your weight," he states

Game Improvement

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

Beginning performances were encouraging

Cook made three centuries on the 2009-10 winter tours against South African and Bangladeshi teams

Pivotal Instances

Upon his return to England for the 2010 summer, the left-hander performed poorly

In eight innings facing these opponents, his top innings was 29

Scoreless overnight at the end of the second day during the final Test versus Pakistan in London, the batsman felt certain it might be his final Test performance before being dropped

"I was sitting in the hospitality area, trying to find the solution by drowning sorrows," he confesses

Decisive Instance

Cook's 110 secured his place for the Australian tour

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

Come the first Test at the famous ground, they faced three wickets from Siddle

Memorable Collaboration

An hour before the end of the third day, both batsmen opened England's second innings trailing by 221 runs

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

"I don't remember the messages, our discussions," recalls Cook

The left-handers added 188 for the first wicket

His unbeaten 235 stood as the best performance from an English player on Australian soil for 82 years

Series Dominance

England exploited an incredible start in the second match in South Australia

Following Anderson's additional wicket Michael Clarke, Australia were 2-3 and never recovered

The batsman proceeded his Queensland achievement through a 148-run innings in a Test remembered featuring Pietersen's destruction of the Australian bowling

Ultimate Victory

The English might have secured the Ashes in Perth, only for Mitchell Johnson to preview the destruction that would come later

The subsequent events included arguably England's best performance during Ashes competition in Australia

In Melbourne, the massive stadium of Australian sport, during Boxing Day, the hosts were dismissed for 98

"If perfection existed for Boxing Day, that defined it. There was disbelief when play concluded," recalls Cook

Ultimate Success

Fuelled by the focus to win the urn, Cook excelled once more at the SCG

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

The debate didn't concern if victory would come the game and series, rather when

"The atmosphere was incredible," Cook remembers

"When Tremlett got the final batsman to win the match, it was a moment of absolute joy"

Enduring Impact

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|