🔗 Share this article

The Queensland capital isn't a location providing the English team crucial confidence in the series

After defeat by the Australian side during the opening match, England have to bounce back for a trip to Brisbane's Gabba, a stadium where victory has eluded England for over thirty years

Players representing England have often become easy prey at the Gabbatoir

A Shining Knight's Success

Throughout modern times of dashed English dreams, dreams and bodies lies an inspirational story delivered by an exceptional player

This marks 15 years since Alastair Cook conquered the Gabba via a landmark 235 without loss, saving the first Test during that famous series establishing England's trajectory for their unique Ashes triumph in Australia over nearly four decades

Unforgettable Series

This marked the start of the victorious circumnavigation of Australia; three centuries and 766 runs

Cricket great Hammond stands as the only Briton with higher run totals throughout a campaign down under

Victory came 3-1, with every win by an innings

The team hasn't secured a Test here since that historic campaign

Looking Back

"People overlook the tough times, the tension and worry that went into that," Cook recalls

"I reflect proudly. My contribution was substantial during a campaign where the English secured a 3-1 victory down under with every match were won by an innings"

The Road to Greatness

Cook's road toward Australian glory started a year and a half before following the 2009 Ashes on home soil

Despite English victory, the opening batsman had an average below 25 with just one score over fifty

He desired better

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

Game Improvement

Two days after the triumphant events, he was back hitting hundreds and hundreds of balls in the nets alongside Graham Gooch

Beginning performances proved positive

The batsman achieved three hundreds on the 2009-10 winter tours against South African and Bangladeshi teams

Pivotal Instances

When Cook returned to home soil during the 2010 season, the left-hander performed poorly

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

Scoreless overnight at the end of the second day's play in the third match facing Pakistan at The Oval, Cook was convinced he was playing his final Test performance before being dropped

"I found myself at the bar, seeking the answer through drinking," he admits

Decisive Instance

The 110-run innings guaranteed his seat on the plane to Australia

England continued their preparations through successful warm-ups in practice matches in Australia

When the first Test arrived at the Gabba, they encountered a Siddle hat-trick

Historic Partnership

An hour before the third day's close, the opening pair started the English reply trailing by 221 runs

They reached 19-0 at stumps then continued with an exhibition engraved in cricket memory

"I cannot recall the messages, our conversations," says Cook

Both left-handed batsmen added 188 together

Cook's 235 not out was the highest score achieved by a Briton down under for 82 years

Complete Control

England exploited an incredible start of the second Test in South Australia

After Anderson also dismissed the Australian batsman, the score read 2-3 and struggled throughout

Cook followed up his Brisbane success by scoring 148 in a famous match highlighting Pietersen's dominance over the Australian bowling

Ultimate Victory

England could have retained the series in Western Australia, however Johnson to foreshadow the havoc that would come later

What followed was arguably England's best performance in Ashes history down under

At the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the massive stadium of sports down under, during Boxing Day, the hosts collapsed to 98 all out

"If perfection existed for Boxing Day, that defined it. Incredulity reigned as the day ended," says Cook

Ultimate Success

Fuelled by the focus to claim victory, Cook excelled once more at the SCG

His score of 189 helped England reach 644, their best score during Australian Tests

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

"The environment was electric," says Cook

"When Tremlett got Michael Beer to claim triumph, that was a time of complete happiness"

Enduring Impact

The batsman received top accolades

The remaining seven years of his Test career included additional achievements

After retiring internationally, he was honored for sporting achievements

"{I couldn't have played any better|