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The Queensland capital isn't a city to give the English team badly required Ashes optimism

In the wake of losing to the hosts at the series start, the visiting team need to regroup before heading to the Gabba, a venue where England have not won since 1986

Men wearing three lions have often become outmatched opponents in Brisbane

Cook's Memorable Achievement

Throughout modern times of broken English hopes, dreams and bodies lies an inspirational story delivered by a shining knight

Today commemorates a decade and a half after Sir Alastair Cook conquered the Gabba via a landmark 235 not out, saving the first Test during that famous series and setting England on course to their only Ashes series win in Australia in the past 38 years

Record-Breaking Performance

This marked the start of Cook's triumphant circumnavigation of Australia; three hundred-plus scores accumulating 766 runs

Wally Hammond is the only Englishman who has made more runs in a series in this country

England won 3-1, where each success via comprehensive wins

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

Cook's Memories

"You forget the difficult moments, the tension and worry accompanying that success," the cricketer reflects

"With pride I remember. I made an important impact in a series when England won 3-1 in Australia where each victory were won by an innings"

Journey to Excellence

Cook's road to his Australian epic began 18 months earlier after the 2009 series on home soil

England won, Cook scored under 25 per innings with just one score over fifty

He desired better

"Despite cricket's collective nature, personal performance creates the sensation that you must contribute adequately," he explains

Skill Development

Shortly after the victory celebrations, he was back at work practicing numerous bowls during training alongside Graham Gooch

Beginning performances were encouraging

The batsman achieved three hundred-run innings during winter tours to South Africa and Bangladesh

Career-Defining Moments

After coming back to England for that year's summer, the left-hander had a "stinker"

Across eight appearances facing these opponents, his top innings reached only 29

Scoreless overnight following day two of the third Test versus Pakistan in London, the batsman felt certain this would be his concluding international appearance ahead of potential omission

"I found myself at the bar, attempting to discover the solution through drinking," he confesses

The Turning Point

Cook's 110 guaranteed his seat for the Australian tour

England continued their preparations with two victories and one draw in practice matches down under

As the opening match began at the Gabba, they were hit by a Siddle hat-trick

Historic Partnership

Just before the end of the third day, Cook and Strauss started the English reply needing to overcome 221 runs

The score stood at 19-0 at stumps and followed up with a performance engraved in cricket memory

"I don't remember specific guidance, our conversations," recalls Cook

The opening pair added 188 in their partnership

The 235 without dismissal was the highest score achieved by a Briton in Australia since the 1930s

Total Command

England exploited a remarkable opening session during the following Test in South Australia

After Anderson also dismissed the Australian batsman, the hosts stood at 2-3 and couldn't recover

He continued his Queensland achievement with 148 in a famous match for Kevin Pietersen dismantling the opposition bowlers

Ultimate Victory

England could have retained the urn in Perth, however Johnson to foreshadow the havoc he would cause four years later

The subsequent events included arguably England's best performance during Ashes competition in Australia

At the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the enormous ground of sports down under, during Boxing Day, the hosts were dismissed for 98

"If perfection existed for Boxing Day, it was that. Incredulity reigned as the day ended," says Cook

Ultimate Success

Fuelled by the focus to claim victory, Cook excelled once more at the SCG

His score of 189 helped England reach 644, their highest total on Australian soil

The question was not whether England would triumph both match and urn, but the timing

"The environment was electric," Cook remembers

"Following Tremlett's wicket of the final batsman to win the match, it represented an instant of complete happiness"

Historical Significance

Cook was player of the series

The subsequent seven years in his international career were illuminated by further accomplishments

Following his international retirement, Cook was knighted for services to cricket

"{I couldn't have played any better|