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Brisbane is not a location providing the English team crucial confidence in the series

In the wake of losing to the hosts at the series start, the visiting team have to bounce back before heading to the famous Gabba, a venue where England have not won for decades

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

Cook's Memorable Achievement

Among a recent history of English disappointments, hopes and athletes exists a motivational tale provided by a cricket hero

Today commemorates 15 years since Alastair Cook mastered the Gabba through a defining 235 without loss, saving the first Test during that famous series establishing England's trajectory toward their sole series victory in Australia over nearly four decades

Unforgettable Series

It commenced of his successful circumnavigation of Australia; three centuries and 766 runs

Wally Hammond remains the sole English player to score more runs throughout a campaign in this country

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

England hasn't achieved a Test victory there since that memorable series

Cook's Memories

"You forget the challenging periods, the tension and worry involved in that achievement," Cook recalls

"With pride I remember. My contribution was substantial in a series when England triumphed 3-1 down under where each victory 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 England

Though England triumphed, the opening batsman scored under 25 per innings with just one score above 50

He desired better

"Cricket is a team game, individual contribution does make you feel like you want to pull your weight," he explains

Game Improvement

Shortly after the celebrations, he was back at work facing countless bowls during training alongside Graham Gooch

The initial results proved positive

The batsman achieved three hundreds on the 2009-10 winter tours to South Africa and Bangladesh

Career-Defining Moments

Upon his return to home soil for that year's summer, the batsman performed poorly

Across eight appearances against Bangladesh and Pakistan, his best performance reached only 29

Without runs after the second day in the third match against Pakistan in London, Cook was convinced it might be his last Test innings before being dropped

"I found myself in the hospitality area, seeking the answer through drinking," he confesses

The Turning Point

The 110-run innings ensured his position in the squad down under

England continued their preparations with two victories and one draw of their warm-up games on Australian soil

As the opening match began at the famous ground, they were hit by three wickets from Siddle

Record-Breaking Stand

An hour before the end of the third day, the opening pair began England's second batting effort trailing by 221 runs

They reached 19-0 at stumps and followed up with a performance engraved in cricket memory

"My memory doesn't retain specific guidance, anything of what we spoke about," says Cook

Both left-handed batsmen added 188 in their partnership

Cook's 235 not out stood as the best performance by an Englishman down under since the 1930s

Complete Control

England exploited an incredible start in the second match in Adelaide

After Anderson also dismissed the Australian batsman, the score read 2-3 and never recovered

The batsman proceeded his Queensland achievement with 148 in a famous match featuring Pietersen's destruction of the opposition bowlers

Series Conclusion

England could have retained the urn in Perth, but Mitchell Johnson to preview the destruction he would cause four years later

Then came possibly England's finest day of Ashes cricket down under

At the MCG, the 100,000-seater cathedral of Australian cricket, during Boxing Day, the Australian team collapsed to 98 all out

"If Carlsberg did Boxing Days, it was that. There was disbelief as the day ended," says Cook

Series Conclusion

Driven by determination to claim victory, the batsman performed brilliantly at the SCG

His 189 contributed to England's 644, their highest total on Australian soil

The debate didn't concern whether England would triumph the game and series, but when

"The environment was electric," Cook remembers

"When Tremlett got the final batsman to win the match, it was a moment of absolute joy"

Enduring Impact

Cook was player of the series

The following seven seasons of his Test career featured other milestones

Following his international retirement, he received a knighthood for services to cricket

"{I couldn't have played any better|