🔗 Share this article

Brisbane is not a city to give the English team badly required confidence in the series

In the wake of losing to Australia at the series start, the visiting team have to bounce back before heading to the famous Gabba, a ground where the English haven't triumphed since 1986

English cricketers have often become lambs to the slaughter at this challenging venue

Cook's Memorable Achievement

Within recent memory of English disappointments, dreams and bodies is a source of inspiration achieved by an exceptional player

This marks the 15th anniversary of the legendary Cook conquered the Gabba via a landmark 235 not out, rescuing the opening match during that famous series and setting England on course for their unique Ashes triumph in Australia during recent memory

Record-Breaking Performance

It was the beginning of his successful Australian campaign; three hundreds and 766 runs

Wally Hammond remains the sole English player who has made more runs during a Test series down under

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

England hasn't achieved a Test victory there since that memorable series

Personal Reflections

"One tends to forget the difficult moments, the tension and worry that went into that," Cook recalls

"I look back with pride. My contribution was substantial in a series when the English secured a 3-1 victory on Australian soil with every match came through innings wins"

The Road to Greatness

The path to his Australian epic began 18 months earlier after the 2009 Ashes on home soil

Despite English victory, the opening batsman had an average below 25 with just one score above 50

He wanted more

"Cricket is a team game, personal performance generates the feeling that personal responsibility matters," he notes

Skill Development

Two days after the victory celebrations, he returned hitting hundreds and hundreds of balls in the nets alongside Graham Gooch

Beginning performances proved positive

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

Pivotal Instances

After coming back to England during the 2010 season, Cook had a "stinker"

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

On nought not out at the end of the second day's play in the third match facing Pakistan in London, the batsman felt certain this would be his concluding international appearance prior to selection

"I was sitting in the bar, trying to find the answer in the bottom of a beer bottle," he admits

Decisive Instance

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

Preparation continued through successful warm-ups during preparatory contests in Australia

When the first Test arrived at the Gabba, they were hit by three wickets from Siddle

Record-Breaking Stand

Shortly prior to the end of the third day, both batsmen opened England's second innings needing to overcome 221 runs

The score stood at 19-0 when play concluded then continued with a performance engraved in cricket memory

"My memory doesn't retain the messages, anything of what we spoke about," recalls Cook

The opening pair accumulated 188 runs together

The 235 without dismissal was the highest score from an English player in Australia for 82 years

Complete Control

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

Following Anderson's additional wicket Michael Clarke, the hosts stood at 2-3 and never recovered

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

Series Conclusion

Victory was possible the Ashes in Perth, but Mitchell Johnson to preview the destruction from future encounters

The subsequent events included arguably England's best performance during Ashes competition on Australian soil

At the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the 100,000-seater cathedral of Australian cricket, during Boxing Day, the Australian team were dismissed for 98

"If perfection existed for Boxing Day, this was it. There was disbelief at the end of the day," recalls Cook

The Final Victory

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

His score of 189 helped England reach 644, their highest total on Australian soil

The question was not if victory would come the game and series, but the timing

"The atmosphere was incredible," says Cook

"Following Tremlett's wicket of the final batsman to secure victory, that was a time of complete happiness"

Legacy and Recognition

The batsman received top accolades

The subsequent seven years in his international career included additional achievements

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

"{I couldn't have played any better|