🔗 Share this article

Brisbane hasn't been a location providing England crucial confidence in the series

Following the loss to the Australian side in the first Test, the tourists have to bounce back ahead of visiting the famous Gabba, a venue where victory has eluded England since 1986

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

The Inspirational Achievement

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

This marks the 15th anniversary of Sir Alastair Cook mastered the Gabba via a landmark 235 not out, saving the first Test of 2010-11 establishing England's trajectory to their only Ashes series win in Australia in the past 38 years

Unforgettable Series

This marked the start of the victorious circumnavigation of Australia; three hundred-plus scores totaling 766 runs

Wally Hammond stands as the only Briton to score more runs during a Test series in this country

England won 3-1, where each success by an innings

They have not won a Test here since that historic campaign

Looking Back

"You forget the challenging periods, the nervousness and anxiety involved in that achievement," the cricketer reflects

"I look back with pride. I made an important impact in a series when England won 3-1 in Australia and all three games were won by an innings"

The Road to Greatness

The path toward Australian glory started a year and a half before after the 2009 series in the UK

Despite English victory, Cook scored under 25 per innings achieving merely one performance above 50

He sought improvement

"Despite cricket's collective nature, personal performance does make you feel that you must contribute adequately," he states

Game Improvement

Shortly after the victory celebrations, he was back at work hitting hundreds and hundreds bowls during training with Graham Gooch

The initial results proved positive

The batsman achieved three hundred-run innings during winter tours to South Africa and Bangladesh

Pivotal Instances

After coming back to England for the 2010 summer, the left-hander struggled significantly

Across eight appearances against Bangladesh and Pakistan, his highest score was 29

Without runs following day two of the third Test against Pakistan in London, Cook believed it might be his last Test innings ahead of potential omission

"There I was in the bar, attempting to discover the answer in the bottom of a beer bottle," he reveals

Critical Moment

The 110-run innings ensured his position on the plane to Australia

Preparation continued by winning two and drawing one during preparatory contests on Australian soil

Come the first Test at the Gabba, they encountered three wickets from Siddle

Memorable Collaboration

An hour before the third day's close, the opening pair started the English reply needing to overcome 221 runs

They achieved 19 without loss when play concluded then continued with an exhibition remembered in Ashes history

"My memory doesn't retain the messages, our discussions," Cook remembers

The left-handers contributed 188 together

His unbeaten 235 stood as the best performance achieved by a Briton in Australia for 82 years

Total Command

England capitalised on a remarkable opening session in the second match in Adelaide

Following Anderson's additional wicket Michael Clarke, the hosts stood at 2-3 and struggled throughout

Cook followed up his Brisbane success by scoring 148 during a memorable Test featuring Pietersen's destruction of the opposition bowlers

Series Conclusion

Victory was possible the Ashes in Perth, only for Mitchell Johnson to indicate the trouble that would come later

What followed was arguably England's best performance in Ashes history on Australian soil

At the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the massive stadium of Australian sport, on the holiday, the hosts were dismissed for 98

"If Carlsberg did Boxing Days, this was it. There was disbelief at the end of the day," Cook remembers

Ultimate Success

Driven by determination to secure the Ashes, the batsman performed brilliantly in Sydney

His 189 lifted England to 644, their highest total in a Test in Australia

The debate didn't concern if victory would come the match and the Ashes, but when

"The atmosphere was incredible," says Cook

"Following Tremlett's wicket of Michael Beer to secure victory, that was a time of absolute joy"

Enduring Impact

He earned series honors

The following seven seasons of his Test career were illuminated by further accomplishments

After retiring internationally, he was honored for cricket contributions

"{I couldn't have played any better|