Sir Alastair's 766 runs from an English player on an Ashes tour ranks second only to the great Wally Hammond
The Queensland capital isn't a location providing the Three Lions some much-needed confidence in the series
Following the loss to Australia during the opening match, the tourists have to bounce back ahead of visiting Brisbane's Gabba, a venue where England have not won for over thirty years
English cricketers have frequently been lambs to the slaughter in Brisbane
Within recent memory of English disappointments, aspirations and players exists a motivational tale delivered by a cricket hero
Today commemorates a decade and a half after the legendary Cook dominated in Brisbane through a defining unbeaten 235, rescuing the opening match during that famous series and setting England on course to their only Ashes series win in Australia over nearly four decades
This marked the start of Cook's triumphant tour of Australia; three hundred-plus scores totaling 766 runs
Cricket great Hammond stands as the only Briton who has made more runs throughout a campaign on Australian soil
England won 3-1, with every win through innings victories
The team hasn't secured a Test here since those glory days
"People overlook the tough times, the apprehension and concern accompanying that success," the cricketer reflects
"I look back with pride. I made an important impact in a tournament that saw England triumphed 3-1 down under with every match were won by an innings"
The path to his Australian epic began 18 months earlier after the 2009 series on home soil
Despite English victory, the opening batsman averaged less than 25 managing only one innings exceeding half-century
He sought improvement
"Cricket is a team game, the individuality does make you feel like you want to pull your weight," he states
Two days after the victory celebrations, he returned practicing numerous of balls in the nets with Graham Gooch
The initial results showed promise
The batsman achieved three centuries on overseas campaigns in South Africa and Bangladesh
Upon his return to home soil for that year's summer, the left-hander had a "stinker"
During eight batting opportunities facing these opponents, his top innings reached only 29
Scoreless overnight following day two in the third match against Pakistan at the famous ground, the batsman felt certain it might be his final Test performance before being dropped
"I found myself in the hospitality area, seeking the answer in the bottom of a beer bottle," he confesses
His century guaranteed his seat on the plane to Australia
Preparation continued by winning two and drawing one of their warm-up games in Australia
Come the first Test in Brisbane, they were hit by Peter Siddle's hat-trick
Just before the end of the third day, both batsmen started the English reply needing to overcome 221 runs
The score stood at 19-0 when play concluded and proceeded with a performance engraved in cricket memory
"I don't remember the messages, our conversations," Cook remembers
Both left-handed batsmen contributed 188 together
Cook's 235 not out stood as the best performance by an Englishman on Australian soil since the 1930s
The English took advantage of an incredible start in the second match in South Australia
After Anderson also dismissed the Australian batsman, the hosts stood at 2-3 and struggled throughout
He continued his Queensland achievement through a 148-run innings in a famous match for Kevin Pietersen dismantling the opposition bowlers
England could have retained the urn in Perth, but Mitchell Johnson to preview the destruction that would come later
What followed was possibly England's finest day in Ashes history in Australia
In Melbourne, the 100,000-seater cathedral of sports down under, and on Boxing Day, the home side were dismissed for 98
"If Carlsberg did Boxing Days, that defined it. Amazement prevailed as the day ended," says Cook
Motivated by purpose to secure the Ashes, Cook was at it again in Sydney
His score of 189 contributed to England's 644, their record innings on Australian soil
The debate didn't concern if victory would come the match and the Ashes, rather when
"The feeling was unbelievable," says Cook
"When Tremlett got the final batsman to win the match, it represented an instant of complete happiness"
The batsman received top accolades
The subsequent seven years in his international career included other milestones
Post-cricket career, Cook was knighted for services to cricket
"{I couldn't have played any better|
