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Brisbane hasn't been a place that offers the Three Lions crucial Ashes optimism

In the wake of losing to Australia during the opening match, England have to bounce back for a trip to Brisbane's Gabba, a ground where victory has eluded England since 1986

Players representing England have habitually been lambs to the slaughter at the Gabbatoir

A Shining Knight's Achievement

Throughout modern times of English disappointments, dreams and bodies lies an inspirational story achieved by a shining knight

It is exactly a decade and a half after Alastair Cook mastered the Gabba through a defining 235 not out, rescuing the opening match from the 2010-11 series and setting England on course for their unique Ashes triumph in Australia during recent memory

Unforgettable Series

This marked the start of Cook's triumphant circumnavigation of Australia; three hundreds totaling 766 runs

Cricket great Hammond is the only Englishman who has made more runs in a series down under

England won 3-1, with every win through innings victories

England hasn't achieved success at this venue since that historic campaign

Cook's Memories

"One tends to forget the challenging periods, the apprehension and concern accompanying that success," Cook recalls

"With pride I remember. I made an important impact during a campaign where England won 3-1 on Australian soil and all three games was achieved comprehensively"

The Road to Greatness

His journey to his Australian epic commenced well before after the 2009 series in the UK

England won, the opener had an average below 25 achieving merely one performance over fifty

He wanted more

"While cricket involves teamwork, personal performance does make you feel that personal responsibility matters," he explains

Skill Development

Shortly after the celebrations, he returned facing countless deliveries in practice with Graham Gooch

Early outcomes showed promise

Cook made three hundreds on overseas campaigns to South Africa and Bangladesh

Pivotal Instances

After coming back to England during the 2010 season, the left-hander performed poorly

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

Scoreless overnight following the second day of the third Test against Pakistan in London, Cook believed he was playing his concluding international appearance before being dropped

"I found myself at the bar, seeking the resolution in the bottom of a beer bottle," he reveals

Critical Moment

Cook's 110 secured his place for the Australian tour

The team maintained preparations with two victories and one draw of their warm-up games in Australia

As the opening match began at the famous ground, they were hit by Peter Siddle's hat-trick

Historic Partnership

An hour before day three's conclusion, Cook and Strauss started the English reply needing to overcome 221 runs

The score stood at 19-0 when play concluded and proceeded through a demonstration engraved in cricket memory

"I don't remember any instructions, our conversations," recalls Cook

Both left-handed batsmen contributed 188 for the first wicket

Cook's 235 not out was the highest score by an Englishman in Australia for 82 years

Total Command

The English took advantage of an astonishing first morning during the following Test at Adelaide

After Anderson also dismissed the opposition player, the hosts stood at 2-3 and never recovered

The batsman proceeded his Brisbane success through a 148-run innings during a memorable Test highlighting Pietersen's dominance over the Australian attack

Ultimate Victory

England could have retained the urn in Perth, however Johnson to preview the destruction from future encounters

Then came arguably England's best performance in Ashes history in Australia

At the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the enormous ground of sports down under, during Boxing Day, the Australian team were blown away for 98

"For ideal Boxing Days, that defined it. Incredulity reigned at the end of the day," Cook remembers

Ultimate Success

Driven by determination to claim victory, Cook was at it again at the Sydney Cricket Ground

The 189-run innings lifted England to 644, their highest total in a Test in Australia

The debate didn't concern whether England would triumph both match and urn, but when

"The environment was electric," recalls Cook

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

Historical Significance

The batsman received top accolades

The remaining seven years in his international career were illuminated by other milestones

Post-cricket career, he received a knighthood for cricket contributions

"{I couldn't have played any better|