🔗 Share this article

Brisbane hasn't been a location providing the Three Lions badly required hope for the Ashes

Following the loss to the Australian side at the series start, the visiting team must stir themselves for a trip to Brisbane's Gabba, a venue where victory has eluded England for decades

English cricketers have often become outmatched opponents at the Gabbatoir

Cook's Memorable Triumph

Throughout modern times of English disappointments, hopes and athletes lies an inspirational story achieved by a shining knight

It is exactly a decade and a half after Sir Alastair Cook conquered the Gabba through a defining unbeaten 235, preserving the initial Test from the 2010-11 series and setting England on course for their unique Ashes triumph in Australia over nearly four decades

Unforgettable Series

It was the beginning of his successful tour of Australia; three centuries and 766 runs

The legendary Hammond remains the sole English player with higher run totals in a series in this country

Victory came 3-1, with every win through innings victories

England hasn't achieved a Test here since that historic campaign

Looking Back

"One tends to forget the tough times, the nervousness and anxiety accompanying that success," Cook recalls

"I look back with pride. I played a significant part in a series when England triumphed 3-1 on Australian soil where each victory were won by an innings"

Path to Success

Cook's road to down under success commenced well before following that year's Ashes in the UK

Though England triumphed, Cook scored under 25 per innings achieving merely one performance above 50

He wanted more

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

Technical Transformation

Just 48 hours following the triumphant events, he was back facing countless of balls in the nets under Graham Gooch's guidance

The initial results showed promise

He scored three centuries on overseas campaigns against South African and Bangladeshi teams

Crucial Turning Points

Upon his return to England for that year's summer, Cook struggled significantly

During eight batting opportunities against Bangladesh and Pakistan, his top innings reached only 29

Without runs after the second day during the final Test versus Pakistan at The Oval, Cook was convinced this would be his last Test innings before being dropped

"There I was in the hospitality area, seeking the answer by drowning sorrows," he admits

The Turning Point

His century secured his place on the plane to Australia

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

When the first Test arrived at the Gabba, they encountered three wickets from Siddle

Historic Partnership

An hour before the end of the third day, both batsmen opened England's second innings needing to overcome 221 runs

They achieved 19 without loss by day's end and proceeded with an exhibition engraved in cricket memory

"I cannot recall the messages, our conversations," says Cook

Both left-handed batsmen added 188 for the first wicket

Cook's 235 not out stood as the best performance from an English player in Australia since the 1930s

Complete Control

England capitalised on an astonishing first morning in the second match in South Australia

After Anderson also dismissed the opposition player, the score read 2-3 and couldn't recover

He continued his Brisbane heroics with 148 during a memorable Test for Kevin Pietersen dismantling the Australian bowling

The Final Triumph

England could have retained the Ashes in Perth, but Mitchell Johnson to indicate the trouble he would cause four years later

The subsequent events included possibly England's finest day in Ashes history on Australian soil

In Melbourne, the enormous ground of Australian sport, during Boxing Day, the hosts were blown away for 98

"If Carlsberg did Boxing Days, that defined it. There was disbelief at the end of the day," says Cook

Ultimate Success

Fuelled by the focus to claim victory, Cook was at it again at the SCG

His 189 lifted England to 644, their best score on Australian soil

The question was not if victory would come the game and series, but when

"The atmosphere was incredible," recalls Cook

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

Legacy and Recognition

He earned series honors

The remaining seven years of his cricket journey were illuminated by other milestones

Following his international retirement, Cook was knighted for cricket contributions

"{I couldn't have played any better|