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Brisbane is not a place that offers the Three Lions some much-needed Ashes optimism

In the wake of losing to the Australian side at the series start, the visiting team must stir themselves for a trip to the Gabba, a venue where the English haven't triumphed for decades

English cricketers have habitually been lambs to the slaughter at the Gabbatoir

Cook's Memorable Triumph

Throughout modern times of English disappointments, hopes and athletes exists a motivational tale delivered by an exceptional player

It is exactly a decade and a half after the legendary Cook conquered the Gabba through a defining 235 without loss, saving the first Test during that famous series and setting England on course to their only Ashes series win in Australia in the past 38 years

Historic Achievement

This marked the start of the victorious tour of Australia; three hundred-plus scores totaling 766 runs

Wally Hammond stands as the only Briton who has made more runs in a series on Australian soil

England won 3-1, with every win by an innings

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

Personal Reflections

"People overlook the challenging periods, the apprehension and concern involved in that achievement," Cook remembers

"With pride I remember. I played a significant part in a tournament that saw England triumphed 3-1 on Australian soil where each victory came through innings wins"

Path to Success

Cook's road to down under success commenced well before at the end of that year's Ashes in England

England won, the opener scored under 25 per innings with just one score above 50

He wanted more

"Cricket is a team game, the individuality generates the feeling that you must contribute adequately," he states

Technical Transformation

Shortly after the victory celebrations, he was back at work facing countless bowls during training alongside Graham Gooch

Beginning performances showed promise

Cook made three hundreds on the 2009-10 winter tours to South Africa and Bangladesh

Pivotal Instances

Upon his return to home soil during the 2010 season, the batsman had a "stinker"

During eight batting opportunities against Bangladesh and Pakistan, his highest score totaled just 29 runs

Scoreless overnight after the second day's play in the third match facing Pakistan at The Oval, Cook was convinced this would be his concluding international appearance before being dropped

"There I was in the bar, trying to find the answer through drinking," he admits

Critical Moment

His century ensured his position on the plane to Australia

Preparation continued by winning two and drawing one in practice matches in Australia

Come the first Test at the famous ground, they encountered Peter Siddle's hat-trick

Record-Breaking Stand

Just before the end of the third day, both batsmen started the English reply with a deficit of 221 runs

They achieved 19 without loss at stumps and proceeded with a performance remembered in Ashes history

"My memory doesn't retain any instructions, anything of what we spoke about," Cook remembers

The opening pair contributed 188 together

His unbeaten 235 was the highest score from an English player on Australian soil for 82 years

Series Dominance

The English took advantage of a remarkable opening session in the second match in South Australia

Following Anderson's additional wicket Michael Clarke, the score read 2-3 and couldn't recover

Cook followed up his Brisbane heroics with 148 in a famous match for Kevin Pietersen dismantling the opposition bowlers

Series Conclusion

The English might have secured the Ashes in Perth, however Johnson to preview the destruction from future encounters

Then came arguably England's best performance of Ashes cricket down under

In Melbourne, the massive stadium of Australian sport, on the holiday, the home side collapsed to 98 all out

"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 excelled once more at the Sydney Cricket Ground

His 189 helped England reach 644, their highest total during Australian Tests

The question was not if victory would come the match and the Ashes, but when

"The atmosphere was incredible," says Cook

"When Tremlett got Michael Beer to claim triumph, it was a moment of complete happiness"

Historical Significance

The batsman received top accolades

The following seven seasons of his cricket journey featured further accomplishments

Following his international retirement, he was honored for services to cricket

"{I couldn't have played any better|