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Brisbane hasn't been a place that offers the English team crucial confidence in the series

In the wake of losing to the Australian side during the opening match, the tourists must stir themselves ahead of visiting the Gabba, a venue where the English haven't triumphed for decades

Players representing England have frequently been lambs to the slaughter at this challenging venue

Cook's Memorable Success

Within recent memory of dashed English dreams, hopes and athletes exists a motivational tale achieved by an exceptional player

This marks the 15th anniversary of Alastair Cook mastered the Gabba through a defining unbeaten 235, saving the first Test of 2010-11 paving England's path to their only Ashes series win on Australian soil during recent memory

Record-Breaking Performance

This marked the start of his successful circumnavigation of Australia; three hundreds accumulating 766 runs

Cricket great Hammond is the only Englishman to score more runs in a series down under

England won 3-1, where each success through innings victories

They have not won a Test victory there since that memorable series

Looking Back

"People overlook the difficult moments, the apprehension and concern involved in that achievement," Cook remembers

"I look back with pride. I made an important impact in a series when England triumphed 3-1 on Australian soil where each victory was achieved comprehensively"

Path to Success

The path to down under success started a year and a half before at the end of the 2009 Ashes in the UK

Despite English victory, the opener averaged less than 25 with just one score exceeding half-century

He wanted more

"Despite cricket's collective nature, personal performance does make you feel like you want to pull your weight," he states

Technical Transformation

Two days after the celebrations, he was back at work hitting hundreds and hundreds deliveries in practice with Graham Gooch

Beginning performances proved positive

He scored three centuries on overseas campaigns against South African and Bangladeshi teams

Crucial Turning Points

After coming back to home soil during the 2010 season, the left-hander performed poorly

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

Without runs following the second day during the final Test versus Pakistan at the famous ground, Cook was convinced it might be his last Test innings before being dropped

"I found myself in the bar, seeking the resolution in the bottom of a beer bottle," he reveals

Critical Moment

Cook's 110 secured his place for the Australian tour

The team maintained preparations through successful warm-ups of their warm-up games on Australian soil

As the opening match began at the Gabba, they were hit by Peter Siddle's hat-trick

Historic Partnership

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

They reached 19-0 when play concluded and proceeded with a performance engraved in cricket memory

"I don't remember any instructions, anything of what we spoke about," recalls Cook

The opening pair added 188 together

Cook's 235 not out was the highest score by an Englishman down under for 82 years

Complete Control

England capitalised on an astonishing first morning in the second match in Adelaide

When Anderson also nicked off the opposition player, the hosts stood at 2-3 and never recovered

Cook followed up his Queensland achievement by scoring 148 in a Test remembered for Kevin Pietersen dismantling the opposition bowlers

Ultimate Victory

The English might have secured the urn in Perth, but Mitchell Johnson to foreshadow the havoc from future encounters

Then came arguably England's best performance of Ashes cricket in Australia

In Melbourne, the enormous ground of sports down under, and on Boxing Day, the home side collapsed to 98 all out

"If Carlsberg did Boxing Days, it was that. There was disbelief when play concluded," recalls Cook

Ultimate Success

Fuelled by the focus to claim victory, Cook was at it again at the Sydney Cricket Ground

His score of 189 helped England reach 644, their highest total on Australian soil

The debate didn't concern whether England would triumph the match and the Ashes, but when

"The environment was electric," Cook remembers

"After Tremlett dismissed Michael Beer to claim triumph, it was a moment of absolute joy"

Enduring Impact

He earned series honors

The following seven seasons of his Test career included further accomplishments

Following his international retirement, Cook was knighted for services to cricket

"{I couldn't have played any better|