Sir Alastair's record-breaking 766 by an Englishman in Australian conditions is only bettered by cricket legend Wally Hammond
Brisbane is not a location providing the English team badly required confidence in the series
Following the loss to the Australian side in the first Test, England need to regroup before heading to the famous Gabba, a venue where victory has eluded England for decades
Players representing England have habitually been easy prey at the Gabbatoir
The Inspirational Achievement
Within recent memory of English disappointments, dreams and bodies exists a motivational tale delivered by a cricket hero
Today commemorates 15 years since the legendary Cook conquered the Gabba through a defining 235 without loss, preserving the initial Test from the 2010-11 series paving England's path to their only Ashes series win in Australia during recent memory
Record-Breaking Performance
It was the beginning of the victorious Australian campaign; three hundreds accumulating 766 runs
The legendary Hammond is the only Englishman who has made more runs during a Test series in this country
England won 3-1, where each success through innings victories
They have not won a Test victory there since those glory days
Cook's Memories
"You forget the difficult moments, the nervousness and anxiety accompanying that success," Cook remembers
"With pride I remember. I made an important impact in a series when England triumphed 3-1 on Australian soil and all three games came through innings wins"
Journey to Excellence
His journey toward Australian glory started a year and a half before after the 2009 series on home soil
Though England triumphed, Cook averaged less than 25 managing only one innings exceeding half-century
He wanted more
"Despite cricket's collective nature, individual contribution does make you feel that personal responsibility matters," he states
Skill Development
Two days after the triumphant events, he returned practicing numerous of balls in the nets alongside Graham Gooch
Early outcomes were encouraging
He scored three hundreds on the 2009-10 winter tours against South African and Bangladeshi teams
Career-Defining Moments
When Cook returned to home soil for the 2010 summer, the left-hander had a "stinker"
In eight innings versus Bangladesh and Pakistan, his best performance was 29
Without runs following the second day's play in the third match against Pakistan at The Oval, Cook was convinced he was playing his last Test innings prior to selection
"I was sitting in the bar, seeking the solution through drinking," he confesses
Decisive Instance
Cook's 110 guaranteed his seat on the plane to Australia
England continued their preparations through successful warm-ups in practice matches in Australia
As the opening match began at the famous ground, they faced three wickets from Siddle
Record-Breaking Stand
An hour before the end of the third day, Cook and Strauss began England's second batting effort with a deficit of 221 runs
They reached 19-0 at stumps then continued through a demonstration etched in Ashes folklore
"My memory doesn't retain the messages, our conversations," recalls Cook
The opening pair accumulated 188 runs together
The 235 without dismissal was the highest score from an English player on Australian soil for 82 years
Series Dominance
England capitalised on an astonishing first morning of the second Test in Adelaide
Following Anderson's additional wicket the opposition player, the score read 2-3 and never recovered
Cook followed up his Brisbane success by scoring 148 in a famous match for Kevin Pietersen dismantling the opposition bowlers
The Final Triumph
The English might have secured the Ashes in Perth, only for Mitchell Johnson to indicate the trouble that would come later
Then came arguably England's best performance of Ashes cricket on Australian soil
At the MCG, the enormous ground of sports down under, on the holiday, the Australian team were blown away for 98
"For ideal Boxing Days, it was that. Amazement prevailed as the day ended," says Cook
The Final Victory
Fuelled by the focus to win the urn, Cook was at it again in Sydney
His 189 helped England reach 644, their best score on Australian soil
The uncertainty wasn't if victory would come the game and series, but when
"The feeling was unbelievable," recalls Cook
"After Tremlett dismissed the last player to claim triumph, it was a moment of absolute joy"
Enduring Impact
He earned series honors
The remaining seven years of his Test career included other milestones
After retiring internationally, he received a knighthood for services to cricket
"{I couldn't have played any better|
