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Brisbane is not a location providing the English team crucial confidence in the series

After defeat by the Australian side during the opening match, the visiting team must stir themselves ahead of visiting the Gabba, a ground where England have not won for decades

Players representing England have habitually been lambs to the slaughter at the Gabbatoir

The Inspirational Triumph

Within recent memory of English disappointments, hopes and athletes is a source of inspiration achieved by a shining knight

This marks a decade and a half after the legendary Cook conquered the Gabba with a career-defining 235 without loss, preserving the initial Test of 2010-11 and setting England on course for their unique Ashes triumph on Australian soil in the past 38 years

Unforgettable Series

It commenced of Cook's triumphant tour of Australia; three hundred-plus scores totaling 766 runs

Cricket great Hammond is the only Englishman with higher run totals in a series in this country

Victory came 3-1, where each success by an innings

The team hasn't secured a Test victory there since that memorable series

Looking Back

"You forget the tough times, the tension and worry that went into that," Cook recalls

"With pride I remember. My contribution was substantial in a series when England triumphed 3-1 down under with every match were won by an innings"

The Road to Greatness

Cook's road to his Australian epic started a year and a half before at the end of that year's Ashes on home soil

Though England triumphed, Cook scored under 25 per innings managing only one innings above 50

He sought improvement

"Cricket is a team game, individual contribution generates the feeling that personal responsibility matters," he explains

Technical Transformation

Just 48 hours following the triumphant events, he returned practicing numerous deliveries in practice under Graham Gooch's guidance

Early outcomes showed promise

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

Crucial Turning Points

When Cook returned to home soil for that year's summer, the batsman had a "stinker"

Across eight appearances against Bangladesh and Pakistan, his highest score totaled just 29 runs

Scoreless overnight following the second day's play of the third Test against Pakistan at The Oval, Cook was convinced it might be his final Test performance ahead of potential omission

"There I was at the bar, trying to find the resolution through drinking," he admits

Decisive Instance

The 110-run innings guaranteed his seat on the plane to Australia

The team maintained preparations with two victories and one draw in practice matches in Australia

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

Historic Partnership

Shortly prior to the end of the third day, Cook and Strauss started the English reply with a deficit of 221 runs

They reached 19-0 by day's end and proceeded with a performance remembered in Ashes history

"My memory doesn't retain specific guidance, our discussions," says Cook

Both left-handed batsmen accumulated 188 runs for the first wicket

The 235 without dismissal represented the top score by an Englishman down under in eight decades

Complete Control

England capitalised on an astonishing first morning during the following Test at Adelaide

Following Anderson's additional wicket the opposition player, Australia were 2-3 and couldn't recover

The batsman proceeded his Brisbane heroics by scoring 148 in a Test remembered featuring Pietersen's destruction of the Australian bowling

The Final Triumph

Victory was possible the urn in Perth, but Mitchell Johnson to indicate the trouble from future encounters

The subsequent events included perhaps England's single greatest day during Ashes competition in Australia

In Melbourne, the massive stadium of Australian cricket, and on Boxing Day, the home side were blown away for 98

"For ideal Boxing Days, that defined it. Amazement prevailed as the day ended," says Cook

Ultimate Success

Fuelled by the focus to secure the Ashes, the batsman performed brilliantly at the SCG

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

The debate didn't concern whether England would triumph the game and series, but the timing

"The atmosphere was incredible," recalls Cook

"When Tremlett got the last player to secure victory, it represented an instant of complete happiness"

Enduring Impact

The batsman received top accolades

The following seven seasons of his Test career featured other milestones

After retiring internationally, he received a knighthood for cricket contributions

"{I couldn't have played any better|