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The Queensland capital isn't a location providing England badly required confidence in the series

Following the loss to the hosts in the first Test, the visiting team must stir themselves ahead of visiting Brisbane's Gabba, a stadium where England have not won for decades

Men wearing three lions have habitually been lambs to the slaughter at this challenging venue

A Shining Knight's Success

Throughout modern times of English disappointments, dreams and bodies is a source of inspiration achieved by an exceptional player

This marks a decade and a half after Alastair Cook conquered the Gabba with a career-defining 235 without loss, preserving the initial Test during that famous series establishing England's trajectory toward their sole series victory on Australian soil over nearly four decades

Record-Breaking Performance

It was the beginning of Cook's triumphant circumnavigation of Australia; three centuries and 766 runs

The legendary Hammond is the only Englishman with higher run totals throughout a campaign in this country

Victory came 3-1, with all victories by an innings

The team hasn't secured a Test victory there since that historic campaign

Looking Back

"You forget the difficult moments, the nervousness and anxiety involved in that achievement," Cook recalls

"With pride I remember. My contribution was substantial during a campaign where the English secured a 3-1 victory in Australia where each victory was achieved comprehensively"

Journey to Excellence

The path toward Australian glory began 18 months earlier at the end of the 2009 Ashes on home soil

England won, the opener averaged less than 25 achieving merely one performance over fifty

He wanted more

"Despite cricket's collective nature, individual contribution generates the feeling that personal responsibility matters," he explains

Game Improvement

Shortly after the celebrations, he returned practicing numerous of balls in the nets alongside Graham Gooch

Beginning performances were encouraging

Cook made three hundred-run innings on the 2009-10 winter tours in South Africa and Bangladesh

Pivotal Instances

Upon his return to home soil for that year's summer, Cook had a "stinker"

Across eight appearances versus Bangladesh and Pakistan, his highest score was 29

On nought not out after day two in the third match versus Pakistan in London, the batsman felt certain it might be his concluding international appearance ahead of potential omission

"I found myself in the hospitality area, attempting to discover the resolution in the bottom of a beer bottle," he reveals

Critical Moment

Cook's 110 secured his place on the plane to Australia

Preparation continued through successful warm-ups during preparatory contests on Australian soil

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

Record-Breaking Stand

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

They reached 19-0 when play concluded and proceeded with a performance remembered in Ashes history

"I don't remember any instructions, anything of what we spoke about," recalls Cook

The opening pair contributed 188 together

Cook's 235 not out stood as the best performance by an Englishman on Australian soil in eight decades

Complete Control

England capitalised on an incredible start of the second Test at Adelaide

Following Anderson's additional wicket the opposition player, Australia were 2-3 and struggled throughout

The batsman proceeded his Queensland achievement through a 148-run innings in a Test remembered for Kevin Pietersen dismantling the opposition bowlers

The Final Triumph

Victory was possible the series in Western Australia, only for Mitchell Johnson to preview the destruction he would cause four years later

Then came possibly England's finest day in Ashes history in Australia

At the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the 100,000-seater cathedral of Australian cricket, on the holiday, the Australian team were dismissed for 98

"For ideal Boxing Days, this was it. There was disbelief as the day ended," says Cook

The Final Victory

Fuelled by the focus to win the urn, Cook was at it again at the Sydney Cricket Ground

The 189-run innings lifted England to 644, their best score on Australian soil

The debate didn't concern if England would win the match and the Ashes, rather when

"The environment was electric," Cook remembers

"After Tremlett dismissed the final batsman to secure victory, it represented an instant of pure elation"

Historical Significance

The batsman received top accolades

The subsequent seven years of his Test career featured further accomplishments

After retiring internationally, Cook was knighted for cricket contributions

"{I couldn't have played any better|