🔗 Share this article

Brisbane is not a place that offers the English team badly required Ashes optimism

After defeat by the hosts at the series start, the visiting team must stir themselves for a trip to Brisbane's Gabba, a stadium where the English haven't triumphed since 1986

Players representing England have frequently been easy prey at the Gabbatoir

Cook's Memorable Achievement

Among a recent history of English disappointments, aspirations and players lies an inspirational story achieved by a cricket hero

This marks a decade and a half after Sir Alastair Cook conquered the Gabba through a defining 235 not out, preserving the initial Test of 2010-11 and setting England on course to their only Ashes series win down under during recent memory

Historic Achievement

It commenced of Cook's triumphant Australian campaign; three hundred-plus scores totaling 766 runs

Cricket great Hammond remains the sole English player to score more runs in a series down under

Victory came 3-1, with every win through innings victories

England hasn't achieved success at this venue since that memorable series

Cook's Memories

"One tends to forget the tough times, the nervousness and anxiety that went into that," the cricketer reflects

"I look back with pride. I played a significant part during a campaign where England won 3-1 on Australian soil where each victory were won by an innings"

The Road to Greatness

The path toward Australian glory began 18 months earlier following the 2009 Ashes on home soil

Despite English victory, the opening batsman had an average below 25 achieving merely one performance exceeding half-century

He sought improvement

"Despite cricket's collective nature, personal performance generates the feeling that you must contribute adequately," he explains

Game Improvement

Just 48 hours following the triumphant events, he was back at work hitting hundreds and hundreds of balls in the nets alongside Graham Gooch

The initial results proved positive

The batsman achieved three hundreds on overseas campaigns in South Africa and Bangladesh

Pivotal Instances

When Cook returned to British conditions during the 2010 season, the batsman struggled significantly

In eight innings versus Bangladesh and Pakistan, his best performance reached only 29

Scoreless overnight following day two during the final Test against Pakistan at The Oval, Cook was convinced it might be his last Test innings before being dropped

"I found myself at the bar, seeking the solution by drowning sorrows," he admits

The Turning Point

Cook's 110 secured his place for the Australian tour

Preparation continued with two victories and one draw during preparatory contests in Australia

When the first Test arrived in Brisbane, they faced a Siddle hat-trick

Historic Partnership

Just before day three's conclusion, Cook and Strauss opened England's second innings with a deficit of 221 runs

They achieved 19 without loss when play concluded then continued with a performance etched in Ashes folklore

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

The opening pair accumulated 188 runs together

The 235 without dismissal was the highest score achieved by a Briton down under for 82 years

Complete Control

England capitalised on a remarkable opening session during the following Test in South Australia

When Anderson also nicked off the Australian batsman, the hosts stood at 2-3 and couldn't recover

Cook followed up his Brisbane heroics by scoring 148 in a famous match for Kevin Pietersen dismantling the Australian attack

The Final Triumph

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

Then came arguably England's best performance of Ashes cricket in Australia

At the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the massive stadium of Australian sport, during Boxing Day, the Australian team collapsed to 98 all out

"If perfection existed for Boxing Day, this was it. Incredulity reigned at the end of the day," says Cook

Series Conclusion

Driven by determination to secure the Ashes, Cook excelled once more at the Sydney Cricket Ground

His 189 contributed to England's 644, their highest total in a Test in Australia

The question was not if England would win the match and the Ashes, rather when

"The environment was electric," says Cook

"Following Tremlett's wicket of the final batsman to win the match, it was a moment of pure elation"

Enduring Impact

Cook was player of the series

The remaining seven years of his Test career were illuminated by further accomplishments

After retiring internationally, he received a knighthood for services to cricket

"{I couldn't have played any better|