🔗 Share this article

Brisbane is not a location providing the English team badly required hope for the Ashes

Following the loss to the hosts during the opening match, England need to regroup before heading to the famous Gabba, a stadium where victory has eluded England for over thirty years

Men wearing three lions have often become lambs to the slaughter in Brisbane

The Inspirational Success

Within recent memory of English disappointments, aspirations and players exists a motivational tale delivered by a shining knight

Today commemorates a decade and a half after Sir Alastair Cook mastered the Gabba via a landmark 235 not out, rescuing the opening match during that famous series paving England's path toward their sole series victory on Australian soil in the past 38 years

Unforgettable Series

This marked the start of Cook's triumphant tour of Australia; three centuries accumulating 766 runs

Wally Hammond is the only Englishman to score more runs in a series on Australian soil

England won 3-1, with every win via comprehensive wins

The team hasn't secured a Test here since that memorable series

Personal Reflections

"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 during a campaign where the English secured a 3-1 victory in Australia and all three games came through innings wins"

The Road to Greatness

Cook's road to his Australian epic commenced well before following that year's Ashes in England

Though England triumphed, Cook averaged less than 25 achieving merely one performance over fifty

He desired better

"While cricket involves teamwork, the individuality creates the sensation that you must contribute adequately," he notes

Technical Transformation

Shortly after the celebrations, he returned facing countless of balls in the nets with Graham Gooch

Beginning performances proved positive

Cook made three hundred-run innings during winter tours to South Africa and Bangladesh

Crucial Turning Points

Upon his return to British conditions during the 2010 season, Cook had a "stinker"

In eight innings versus Bangladesh and Pakistan, his top innings totaled just 29 runs

Scoreless overnight following day two in the third match against Pakistan at The Oval, Cook believed this would be his final Test performance ahead of potential omission

"I found myself at the bar, trying to find the resolution by drowning sorrows," he admits

Critical Moment

His century secured his place on the plane to Australia

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

As the opening match began in Brisbane, they were hit by Peter Siddle's hat-trick

Record-Breaking Stand

Just before the end of the third day, both batsmen started the English reply with a deficit of 221 runs

They achieved 19 without loss at stumps and followed up through a demonstration engraved in cricket memory

"I cannot recall any instructions, anything of what we spoke about," Cook remembers

Both left-handed batsmen contributed 188 for the first wicket

The 235 without dismissal was the highest score from an English player on Australian soil for 82 years

Complete Control

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

After Anderson also dismissed Michael Clarke, the hosts stood at 2-3 and couldn't recover

Cook followed up his Brisbane success through a 148-run innings during a memorable Test for Kevin Pietersen dismantling the Australian bowling

Series Conclusion

The English might have secured the urn in Perth, only for Mitchell Johnson to indicate the trouble from future encounters

The subsequent events included possibly England's finest day in Ashes history down under

At the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the enormous ground of sports down under, during Boxing Day, the home side were dismissed for 98

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

The Final Victory

Motivated by purpose to win the urn, Cook excelled once more in Sydney

The 189-run innings contributed to England's 644, their record innings in a Test in Australia

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

"The feeling was unbelievable," Cook remembers

"When Tremlett got the last player to win the match, it represented an instant of complete happiness"

Historical Significance

Cook was player of the series

The subsequent seven years in his international career included further accomplishments

Post-cricket career, he was honored for cricket contributions

"{I couldn't have played any better|