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The Queensland capital isn't a city to give the English team crucial hope for the Ashes

In the wake of losing to the hosts in the first Test, the tourists must stir themselves for a trip to the Gabba, a stadium where the English haven't triumphed since 1986

English cricketers have habitually been easy prey at this challenging venue

Cook's Memorable Triumph

Among a recent history of English disappointments, hopes and athletes is a source of inspiration 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, saving the first Test from the 2010-11 series establishing England's trajectory toward their sole series victory in Australia during recent memory

Unforgettable Series

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

Cricket great Hammond remains the sole English player to score more runs in a series in this country

The English triumphed 3-1, where each success via comprehensive wins

England hasn't achieved a Test victory there since that historic campaign

Cook's Memories

"You forget the challenging periods, the tension and worry involved in that achievement," Cook remembers

"With pride I remember. I made an important impact in a series when England won 3-1 in Australia with every match was achieved comprehensively"

The Road to Greatness

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

England won, the opener averaged less than 25 achieving merely one performance exceeding half-century

He desired better

"Despite cricket's collective nature, personal performance does make you feel that you must contribute adequately," he explains

Technical Transformation

Just 48 hours following the celebrations, he was back at work hitting hundreds and hundreds bowls during training under Graham Gooch's guidance

Early outcomes showed promise

He scored three hundreds on the 2009-10 winter tours against South African and Bangladeshi teams

Pivotal Instances

After coming back to British conditions for the 2010 summer, the batsman struggled significantly

During eight batting opportunities facing these opponents, his best performance was 29

Scoreless overnight following day two in the third match against Pakistan at the famous ground, the batsman felt certain he was playing his last Test innings ahead of potential omission

"There I was in the bar, trying to find the solution by drowning sorrows," he confesses

Critical Moment

His century ensured his position for the Australian tour

Preparation continued with two victories and one draw during preparatory contests in Australia

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

Record-Breaking Stand

An hour before the third day's close, both batsmen started the English reply needing to overcome 221 runs

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

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

The left-handers contributed 188 together

Cook's 235 not out represented the top score achieved by a Briton on Australian soil since the 1930s

Complete Control

England exploited an incredible start in the second match in Adelaide

Following Anderson's additional wicket the opposition player, Australia were 2-3 and never recovered

Cook followed up his Queensland achievement through a 148-run innings in a famous match featuring Pietersen's destruction of the Australian attack

Series Conclusion

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

The subsequent events included possibly England's finest day of Ashes cricket in Australia

In Melbourne, the massive stadium of sports down under, on the holiday, the Australian team collapsed to 98 all out

"If perfection existed for Boxing Day, that defined it. Incredulity reigned when play concluded," recalls Cook

Series Conclusion

Fuelled by the focus to claim victory, Cook excelled once more in Sydney

The 189-run innings contributed to England's 644, their record innings during Australian Tests

The debate didn't concern whether England would triumph both match and urn, rather when

"The feeling was unbelievable," Cook remembers

"After Tremlett dismissed Michael Beer to win the match, that was a time of complete happiness"

Enduring Impact

The batsman received top accolades

The following seven seasons in his international career included further accomplishments

Post-cricket career, he was honored for sporting achievements

"{I couldn't have played any better|