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Brisbane is not a city to give the Three Lions some much-needed Ashes optimism

After defeat by the Australian side at the series start, the visiting team must stir themselves for a trip to the famous Gabba, a stadium where England have not won since 1986

Players representing England have often become outmatched opponents at this challenging venue

The Inspirational Triumph

Throughout modern times of English disappointments, hopes and athletes exists a motivational tale provided by an exceptional player

It is exactly the 15th anniversary of Sir Alastair Cook conquered the Gabba with a career-defining unbeaten 235, saving the first Test from the 2010-11 series and setting England on course for their unique Ashes triumph down under during recent memory

Historic Achievement

It was the beginning of the victorious Australian campaign; three hundred-plus scores and 766 runs

The legendary Hammond remains the sole English player with higher run totals during a Test series down under

The English triumphed 3-1, with every win by an innings

England hasn't achieved success at this venue since that historic campaign

Personal Reflections

"You forget the challenging periods, the tension and worry accompanying that success," the cricketer reflects

"With pride I remember. My contribution was substantial in a tournament that saw England won 3-1 in Australia and all three games came through innings wins"

Path to Success

Cook's road toward Australian glory commenced well before after that year's Ashes in England

England won, the opener scored under 25 per innings managing only one innings above 50

He desired better

"While cricket involves teamwork, personal performance does make you feel that you must contribute adequately," he notes

Skill Development

Just 48 hours following the victory celebrations, he was back at work hitting hundreds and hundreds deliveries in practice with Graham Gooch

Beginning performances proved positive

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

Pivotal Instances

Upon his return to British conditions for the 2010 summer, Cook had a "stinker"

During eight batting opportunities against Bangladesh and Pakistan, his best performance reached only 29

Scoreless overnight after the second day in the third match facing Pakistan at the famous ground, Cook believed he was playing his last Test innings prior to selection

"There I was in the hospitality area, trying to find the solution by drowning sorrows," he reveals

Decisive Instance

His century secured his place for the Australian tour

The team maintained preparations with two victories and one draw of their warm-up games on Australian soil

When the first Test arrived in Brisbane, they encountered a Siddle hat-trick

Record-Breaking Stand

An hour before the end of the third day, Cook and Strauss opened England's second innings with a deficit of 221 runs

The score stood at 19-0 when play concluded and proceeded through a demonstration remembered in Ashes history

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

Both left-handed batsmen added 188 for the first wicket

The 235 without dismissal represented the top score from an English player down under in eight decades

Complete Control

England exploited an incredible start in the second match at Adelaide

When Anderson also nicked off the opposition player, the score read 2-3 and struggled throughout

Cook followed up his Brisbane heroics with 148 in a Test remembered highlighting Pietersen's dominance over the Australian bowling

The Final Triumph

Victory was possible the series in Western Australia, but Mitchell Johnson to preview the destruction that would come later

Then came possibly England's finest day of Ashes cricket down under

At the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the massive stadium of sports down under, on the holiday, the home side collapsed to 98 all out

"If Carlsberg did Boxing Days, it was that. There was disbelief when play concluded," recalls Cook

Ultimate Success

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

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

The question was not if England would win the match and the Ashes, but when

"The atmosphere was incredible," recalls Cook

"When Tremlett got the last player to secure victory, it represented an instant of absolute joy"

Enduring Impact

He earned series honors

The subsequent seven years of his cricket journey were illuminated by additional achievements

After retiring internationally, Cook was knighted for services to cricket

"{I couldn't have played any better|