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The Queensland capital isn't a city to give England badly required Ashes optimism

After defeat by the hosts at the series start, the visiting team have to bounce back for a trip to the famous Gabba, a ground where the English haven't triumphed for decades

Players representing England have often become easy prey at the Gabbatoir

The Inspirational Triumph

Throughout modern times of dashed English dreams, aspirations and players exists a motivational tale achieved by an exceptional player

It is exactly the 15th anniversary of Alastair Cook mastered the Gabba with a career-defining 235 not out, preserving the initial Test of 2010-11 and setting England on course to their only Ashes series win down under in the past 38 years

Unforgettable Series

It commenced of his successful tour of Australia; three hundred-plus scores and 766 runs

Wally Hammond is the only Englishman with higher run totals throughout a campaign down under

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

England hasn't achieved a Test here since that historic campaign

Looking Back

"People overlook the challenging periods, the tension and worry involved in that achievement," Cook recalls

"I look back with pride. My contribution was substantial in a series when England triumphed 3-1 in Australia where each victory was achieved comprehensively"

The Road to Greatness

Cook's road to down under success started a year and a half before following that year's Ashes in England

Though England triumphed, the opening batsman scored under 25 per innings with just one score above 50

He sought improvement

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

Game Improvement

Just 48 hours following the celebrations, he was back hitting hundreds and hundreds bowls during training with Graham Gooch

The initial results proved positive

He scored three hundreds on overseas campaigns to South Africa and Bangladesh

Career-Defining Moments

Upon his return to British conditions for that year's summer, the left-hander performed poorly

During eight batting opportunities facing these opponents, his top innings reached only 29

On nought not out following day two in the third match facing Pakistan in London, Cook believed he was playing his last Test innings ahead of potential omission

"I found myself at the bar, trying to find the resolution in the bottom of a beer bottle," he admits

Decisive Instance

The 110-run innings secured his place on the plane to Australia

Preparation continued by winning two and drawing one in practice matches on Australian soil

When the first Test arrived at the Gabba, they encountered three wickets from Siddle

Memorable Collaboration

Just before the end of the third day, Cook and Strauss began England's second batting effort with a deficit of 221 runs

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

"My memory doesn't retain specific guidance, anything of what we spoke about," says Cook

The opening pair added 188 together

Cook's 235 not out was the highest score achieved by a Briton on Australian soil since the 1930s

Complete Control

England capitalised on an astonishing first morning in the second match in Adelaide

After Anderson also dismissed the opposition player, the score read 2-3 and struggled throughout

Cook followed up his Brisbane heroics through a 148-run innings in a famous match for Kevin Pietersen dismantling the Australian bowling

Series Conclusion

The English might have secured the urn in Perth, however Johnson to foreshadow the havoc he would cause four years later

Then came perhaps England's single greatest day in Ashes history in Australia

At the MCG, the enormous ground of Australian sport, and on Boxing Day, the Australian team collapsed to 98 all out

"For ideal Boxing Days, that defined it. Amazement prevailed as the day ended," recalls Cook

Ultimate Success

Fuelled by the focus to win the urn, Cook excelled once more in Sydney

His 189 contributed to England's 644, their record innings on Australian soil

The debate didn't concern whether England would triumph the match and the Ashes, rather when

"The feeling was unbelievable," recalls Cook

"When Tremlett got Michael Beer to secure victory, it was a moment of pure elation"

Enduring Impact

The batsman received top accolades

The remaining seven years in his international career featured further accomplishments

Following his international retirement, he was honored for sporting achievements

"{I couldn't have played any better|