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Brisbane is not a place that offers England crucial hope for the Ashes

After defeat by the Australian side during the opening match, the tourists have to bounce back ahead of visiting the Gabba, a stadium where the English haven't triumphed for over thirty years

English cricketers have frequently been easy prey in Brisbane

Cook's Memorable Triumph

Among a recent history of broken English hopes, dreams and bodies lies an inspirational story delivered by a shining knight

Today commemorates a decade and a half after the legendary Cook conquered the Gabba via a landmark 235 without loss, preserving the initial Test of 2010-11 establishing England's trajectory to their only Ashes series win down under during recent memory

Record-Breaking Performance

This marked the start of his successful tour of Australia; three centuries accumulating 766 runs

The legendary Hammond is the only Englishman to score more runs throughout a campaign down under

The English triumphed 3-1, with every win by an innings

England hasn't achieved a Test here since that memorable series

Cook's Memories

"One tends to forget the difficult moments, the nervousness and anxiety accompanying that success," Cook recalls

"I look back with pride. I played a significant part in a series when the English secured a 3-1 victory in Australia where each victory were won by an innings"

Journey to Excellence

His journey toward Australian glory began 18 months earlier following that year's Ashes on home soil

Despite English victory, the opening batsman scored under 25 per innings managing only one innings exceeding half-century

He desired better

"Cricket is a team game, the individuality does make you feel that you must contribute adequately," he notes

Technical Transformation

Two days after the celebrations, he was back hitting hundreds and hundreds of balls in the nets alongside Graham Gooch

Early outcomes proved positive

Cook made three hundreds during winter tours to South Africa and Bangladesh

Crucial Turning Points

After coming back to home soil during the 2010 season, Cook struggled significantly

During eight batting opportunities versus Bangladesh and Pakistan, his best performance totaled just 29 runs

On nought not out at the end of the second day of the third Test against Pakistan in London, Cook believed this would be his concluding international appearance prior to selection

"I found myself at the bar, trying to find the solution in the bottom of a beer bottle," he confesses

The Turning Point

His century ensured his position on the plane to Australia

Preparation continued with two victories and one draw in practice matches in Australia

When the first Test arrived at the Gabba, they were hit by Peter Siddle's hat-trick

Historic Partnership

Just before the end of the third day, Cook and Strauss began England's second batting effort needing to overcome 221 runs

The score stood at 19-0 when play concluded then continued with a performance remembered in Ashes history

"I cannot recall specific guidance, anything of what we spoke about," Cook remembers

The opening pair accumulated 188 runs for the first wicket

The 235 without dismissal represented the top score by an Englishman in Australia since the 1930s

Series Dominance

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

Following Anderson's additional wicket the opposition player, the hosts stood at 2-3 and couldn't recover

The batsman proceeded his Queensland achievement by scoring 148 in a famous match for Kevin Pietersen dismantling the Australian attack

Ultimate Victory

England could have retained the urn in Perth, only for Mitchell Johnson to foreshadow the havoc that would come later

Then came possibly England's finest day in Ashes history in Australia

In Melbourne, the enormous ground of Australian sport, on the holiday, the hosts were blown away for 98

"If Carlsberg did Boxing Days, it was that. Amazement prevailed at the end of the day," recalls Cook

Ultimate Success

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

His 189 helped England reach 644, their best score on Australian soil

The debate didn't concern if victory would come the game and series, but the timing

"The feeling was unbelievable," says Cook

"Following Tremlett's wicket of the last player to win the match, that was a time of complete happiness"

Historical Significance

He earned series honors

The following seven seasons of his Test career featured further accomplishments

After retiring internationally, he received a knighthood for services to cricket

"{I couldn't have played any better|