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Brisbane hasn't been a city to give the Three Lions badly required hope for the Ashes

After defeat by the hosts during the opening match, England must stir themselves before heading to the famous Gabba, a ground where the English haven't triumphed for over thirty years

English cricketers have habitually been lambs to the slaughter at the Gabbatoir

The Inspirational Success

Throughout modern times of English disappointments, aspirations and players exists a motivational tale provided by an exceptional player

This marks a decade and a half after Alastair Cook conquered the Gabba with a career-defining unbeaten 235, rescuing the opening match from the 2010-11 series paving England's path toward their sole series victory down under over nearly four decades

Historic Achievement

It was the beginning of his successful Australian campaign; three hundreds accumulating 766 runs

The legendary Hammond is the only Englishman to score more runs throughout a campaign in this country

Victory came 3-1, where each success via comprehensive wins

They have not won success at this venue since that historic campaign

Looking Back

"People overlook the difficult moments, the apprehension and concern that went into that," Cook recalls

"With pride I remember. My contribution was substantial in a tournament that saw England triumphed 3-1 on Australian soil and all three games came through innings wins"

The Road to Greatness

The path to down under success started a year and a half before after the 2009 Ashes in England

Despite English victory, the opening batsman scored under 25 per innings managing only one innings over fifty

He desired better

"While cricket involves teamwork, individual contribution generates the feeling like you want to pull your weight," he states

Skill Development

Shortly after the celebrations, he was back at work practicing numerous of balls in the nets alongside Graham Gooch

Beginning performances were encouraging

He scored three hundred-run innings on overseas campaigns in South Africa and Bangladesh

Career-Defining Moments

After coming back to home soil for the 2010 summer, Cook had a "stinker"

Across eight appearances versus Bangladesh and Pakistan, his top innings was 29

Scoreless overnight following day two during the final Test against Pakistan at the famous ground, Cook believed he was playing his concluding international appearance prior to selection

"I was sitting in the hospitality area, trying to find the resolution by drowning sorrows," he reveals

Decisive Instance

His century guaranteed his seat for the Australian tour

England continued their preparations with two victories and one draw of their warm-up games down under

When the first Test arrived in Brisbane, they encountered Peter Siddle's hat-trick

Memorable Collaboration

An hour before the end of the third day, Cook and Strauss opened England's second innings with a deficit of 221 runs

They reached 19-0 at stumps and followed up with an exhibition engraved in cricket memory

"I cannot recall specific guidance, our conversations," says Cook

The opening pair accumulated 188 runs in their partnership

Cook's 235 not out was the highest score achieved by a Briton in Australia since the 1930s

Total Command

England exploited an incredible start of the second Test at Adelaide

When Anderson also nicked off Michael Clarke, the score read 2-3 and never recovered

The batsman proceeded his Brisbane heroics with 148 during a memorable Test highlighting Pietersen's dominance over the Australian bowling

Ultimate Victory

Victory was possible the series in Western Australia, only for Mitchell Johnson to preview the destruction that would come later

Then came perhaps England's single greatest day during Ashes competition on Australian soil

In Melbourne, the massive stadium of Australian cricket, during Boxing Day, the home side were dismissed for 98

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

The Final Victory

Fuelled by the focus to secure the Ashes, the batsman performed brilliantly at the SCG

His score of 189 contributed to England's 644, their best score on Australian soil

The uncertainty wasn't if victory would come the match and the Ashes, rather when

"The environment was electric," Cook remembers

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

Historical Significance

He earned series honors

The remaining seven years of his cricket journey featured further accomplishments

Post-cricket career, he received a knighthood for services to cricket

"{I couldn't have played any better|