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Brisbane hasn't been a place that offers the Three Lions badly required hope for the Ashes

In the wake of losing to the Australian side in the first Test, the visiting team need to regroup before heading to the famous Gabba, a venue where the English haven't triumphed for decades

Men wearing three lions have often become easy prey at this challenging venue

A Shining Knight's Success

Within recent memory of English disappointments, aspirations and players lies an inspirational story achieved by an exceptional player

It is exactly the 15th anniversary of Sir Alastair Cook dominated in Brisbane via a landmark 235 without loss, preserving the initial Test from the 2010-11 series establishing England's trajectory toward their sole series victory down under during recent memory

Record-Breaking Performance

It commenced of his successful tour of Australia; three hundred-plus scores totaling 766 runs

Wally Hammond stands as the only Briton to score more runs throughout a campaign in this country

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

They have not won a Test here since that memorable series

Cook's Memories

"You forget the challenging periods, the apprehension and concern involved in that achievement," Cook remembers

"I look back with pride. I played a significant part in a tournament that saw England won 3-1 on Australian soil and all three games came through innings wins"

The Road to Greatness

The path toward Australian glory started a year and a half before following the 2009 Ashes in the UK

Though England triumphed, the opener had an average below 25 achieving merely one performance over fifty

He wanted more

"Cricket is a team game, personal performance creates the sensation that you must contribute adequately," he explains

Technical Transformation

Two days after the celebrations, he was back at work practicing numerous deliveries in practice alongside Graham Gooch

Beginning performances were encouraging

Cook made three hundred-run innings on the 2009-10 winter tours to South Africa and Bangladesh

Crucial Turning Points

After coming back to England during the 2010 season, the left-hander struggled significantly

During eight batting opportunities against Bangladesh and Pakistan, his highest score was 29

On nought not out following day two of the third Test versus Pakistan at The Oval, Cook was convinced this would be his last Test innings ahead of potential omission

"There I was in the hospitality area, attempting to discover the solution through drinking," he confesses

Critical Moment

His century ensured his position on the plane to Australia

England continued their preparations by winning two and drawing one in practice matches down under

Come the first Test in Brisbane, they were hit by a Siddle hat-trick

Historic Partnership

An hour before the end of the third day, both batsmen started the English reply needing to overcome 221 runs

They reached 19-0 when play concluded and proceeded with an exhibition engraved in cricket memory

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

Both left-handed batsmen contributed 188 in their partnership

Cook's 235 not out represented the top score from an English player in Australia in eight decades

Total Command

The English took advantage of an incredible start of the second Test in South Australia

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

Cook followed up his Brisbane heroics through a 148-run innings during a memorable Test featuring Pietersen's destruction of the Australian attack

Series Conclusion

The English might have secured the series in Western Australia, but Mitchell Johnson to preview the destruction that would come later

What followed was possibly England's finest day during Ashes competition in Australia

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

"For ideal Boxing Days, that defined it. There was disbelief when play concluded," says Cook

Ultimate Success

Fuelled by the focus to secure the Ashes, the batsman performed brilliantly at the Sydney Cricket Ground

His 189 lifted England to 644, their best score during Australian Tests

The uncertainty wasn't if England would win the match and the Ashes, rather when

"The environment was electric," says Cook

"After Tremlett dismissed the final batsman to secure victory, it was a moment of absolute joy"

Historical Significance

He earned series honors

The following seven seasons of his Test career featured additional achievements

Post-cricket career, Cook was knighted for services to cricket

"{I couldn't have played any better|