🔗 Share this article

The Queensland capital isn't a place that offers the Three Lions badly required hope for the Ashes

After defeat by the Australian side at the series start, the visiting team have to bounce back ahead of visiting the Gabba, a venue where England have not won since 1986

English cricketers have often become easy prey in Brisbane

A Shining Knight's Success

Among a recent history of broken English hopes, dreams and bodies lies an inspirational story provided by an exceptional player

Today commemorates 15 years since Alastair Cook mastered the Gabba through a defining 235 not out, preserving the initial Test during that famous series establishing England's trajectory to their only Ashes series win down under over nearly four decades

Historic Achievement

It was the beginning of the victorious circumnavigation of Australia; three hundred-plus scores accumulating 766 runs

Cricket great Hammond stands as the only Briton to score more runs in a series down under

The English triumphed 3-1, where each success by an innings

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

Looking Back

"You forget the challenging periods, the nervousness and anxiety involved in that achievement," Cook remembers

"With pride I remember. My contribution was substantial in a series when England triumphed 3-1 on Australian soil with every match was achieved comprehensively"

The Road to Greatness

Cook's road toward Australian glory started a year and a half before after the 2009 Ashes in England

Though England triumphed, the opening batsman had an average below 25 managing only one innings above 50

He wanted more

"Despite cricket's collective nature, individual contribution does make you feel that you must contribute adequately," he notes

Technical Transformation

Two days after the triumphant events, he returned facing countless of balls in the nets under Graham Gooch's guidance

Beginning performances were encouraging

Cook made three hundred-run innings on overseas campaigns to South Africa and Bangladesh

Career-Defining Moments

After coming back to home soil for the 2010 summer, the left-hander had a "stinker"

In eight innings facing these opponents, his top innings reached only 29

On nought not out after day two in the third match facing Pakistan in London, Cook believed he was playing his concluding international appearance before being dropped

"There I was in the hospitality area, attempting to discover the solution in the bottom of a beer bottle," he confesses

Critical Moment

The 110-run innings secured his place in the squad down under

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

As the opening match began at the Gabba, they were hit by three wickets from Siddle

Memorable Collaboration

An hour before day three's conclusion, the opening pair opened England's second innings with a deficit of 221 runs

They reached 19-0 at stumps and followed up through a demonstration etched in Ashes folklore

"I don't remember the messages, our conversations," Cook remembers

The left-handers accumulated 188 runs in their partnership

The 235 without dismissal stood as the best performance from an English player on Australian soil since the 1930s

Total Command

England exploited an astonishing first morning during the following Test at Adelaide

After Anderson also dismissed the opposition player, Australia were 2-3 and never recovered

He continued his Brisbane success by scoring 148 in a famous match featuring Pietersen's destruction of the opposition bowlers

Series Conclusion

Victory was possible the urn in Perth, only for Mitchell Johnson to preview the destruction he would cause four years later

What followed was perhaps England's single greatest day of Ashes cricket on Australian soil

At the MCG, the massive stadium of sports down under, during Boxing Day, the home side were blown away for 98

"For ideal Boxing Days, that defined it. There was disbelief as the day ended," recalls Cook

Series Conclusion

Driven by determination to claim victory, Cook was at it again at the SCG

The 189-run innings helped England reach 644, their highest total on Australian soil

The uncertainty wasn't if England would win the game and series, but when

"The atmosphere was incredible," recalls Cook

"After Tremlett dismissed the final batsman to win the match, it was a moment of absolute joy"

Legacy and Recognition

He earned series honors

The subsequent seven years of his Test career were illuminated by other milestones

Post-cricket career, he was honored for sporting achievements

"{I couldn't have played any better|