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The Queensland capital isn't a city to give England badly required hope for the Ashes

In the wake of losing to the Australian side at the series start, the tourists need to regroup for a trip to the famous Gabba, a venue where victory has eluded England for decades

English cricketers have habitually been easy prey in Brisbane

The Inspirational Success

Throughout modern times of English disappointments, aspirations and players lies an inspirational story achieved by a cricket hero

It is exactly the 15th anniversary of the legendary Cook conquered the Gabba via a landmark unbeaten 235, saving the first Test during that famous series and setting England on course to their only Ashes series win on Australian soil over nearly four decades

Unforgettable Series

This marked the start of Cook's triumphant Australian campaign; three centuries accumulating 766 runs

Wally Hammond remains the sole English player with higher run totals throughout a campaign down under

The English triumphed 3-1, with every win through innings victories

England hasn't achieved a Test victory there since those glory days

Looking Back

"One tends to forget the difficult moments, the apprehension and concern accompanying that success," Cook remembers

"With pride I remember. My contribution was substantial during a campaign where England triumphed 3-1 in Australia and all three games came through innings wins"

Journey to Excellence

His journey to down under success commenced well before after the 2009 Ashes in the UK

England won, Cook averaged less than 25 with just one score over fifty

He wanted more

"Cricket is a team game, personal performance generates the feeling that personal responsibility matters," he states

Technical Transformation

Just 48 hours following the victory celebrations, he was back at work facing countless deliveries in practice with Graham Gooch

Beginning performances showed promise

Cook made three centuries on overseas campaigns against South African and Bangladeshi teams

Pivotal Instances

After coming back to England for that year's summer, the batsman performed poorly

In eight innings versus Bangladesh and Pakistan, his best performance reached only 29

On nought not out after the second day's play of the third Test facing Pakistan in London, Cook was convinced it might be his final Test performance prior to selection

"I was sitting in the hospitality area, trying to find the solution in the bottom of a beer bottle," he confesses

Decisive Instance

Cook's 110 ensured his position on the plane to Australia

England continued their preparations through successful warm-ups in practice matches in Australia

Come the first Test at the Gabba, they were hit by three wickets from Siddle

Memorable Collaboration

An hour before the end of the third day, Cook and Strauss began England's second batting effort with a deficit of 221 runs

They achieved 19 without loss when play concluded then continued through a demonstration engraved in cricket memory

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

The left-handers accumulated 188 runs for the first wicket

His unbeaten 235 stood as the best performance by an Englishman down under since the 1930s

Series Dominance

The English took advantage of a remarkable opening session of the second Test in Adelaide

When Anderson also nicked off Michael Clarke, the score read 2-3 and couldn't recover

The batsman proceeded his Queensland achievement by scoring 148 during a memorable Test for Kevin Pietersen dismantling the Australian attack

Series Conclusion

England could have retained the Ashes in Perth, only for Mitchell Johnson to indicate the trouble from future encounters

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

At the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the 100,000-seater cathedral of Australian sport, and on Boxing Day, the hosts were dismissed for 98

"If perfection existed for Boxing Day, it was that. Amazement prevailed at the end of the day," says Cook

The Final Victory

Motivated by purpose to claim victory, the batsman performed brilliantly in Sydney

His 189 helped England reach 644, their record innings during Australian Tests

The uncertainty wasn't if victory would come the match and the Ashes, but when

"The environment was electric," Cook remembers

"When Tremlett got Michael Beer to win the match, it represented an instant of absolute joy"

Enduring Impact

He earned series honors

The subsequent 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|