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Brisbane is not a city to give the English team badly required Ashes optimism

Following the loss to the Australian side in the first Test, the visiting team must stir themselves ahead of visiting the famous Gabba, a stadium where the English haven't triumphed for decades

Men wearing three lions have frequently been easy prey at this challenging venue

A Shining Knight's Success

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

This marks 15 years since Sir Alastair Cook dominated in Brisbane via a landmark unbeaten 235, saving the first Test from the 2010-11 series and setting England on course toward their sole series victory down under over nearly four decades

Unforgettable Series

It was the beginning of his successful Australian campaign; three hundreds accumulating 766 runs

Cricket great Hammond is the only Englishman with higher run totals in a series in this country

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

They have not won a Test here since that historic campaign

Cook's Memories

"You forget the challenging periods, the tension and worry that went into that," the cricketer reflects

"I look back with pride. I played a significant part in a series when England triumphed 3-1 on Australian soil where each victory came through innings wins"

The Road to Greatness

The path to down under success began 18 months earlier after the 2009 series in the UK

Despite English victory, the opener scored under 25 per innings managing only one innings above 50

He sought improvement

"While cricket involves teamwork, personal performance does make you feel that personal responsibility matters," he explains

Technical Transformation

Shortly after the triumphant events, he was back facing countless of balls in the nets alongside Graham Gooch

Beginning performances were encouraging

The batsman achieved three hundreds on the 2009-10 winter tours against South African and Bangladeshi teams

Career-Defining Moments

When Cook returned to British conditions for the 2010 summer, the batsman performed poorly

During eight batting opportunities versus Bangladesh and Pakistan, his highest score was 29

On nought not out following the second day in the third match facing Pakistan at The Oval, Cook believed this would be his final Test performance before being dropped

"I was sitting in the bar, attempting to discover the solution in the bottom of a beer bottle," he confesses

Decisive Instance

His century ensured his position for the Australian tour

Preparation continued through successful warm-ups of their warm-up games on Australian soil

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

Historic Partnership

An hour before day three's conclusion, the opening pair began England's second batting effort needing to overcome 221 runs

They achieved 19 without loss by day's end then continued with an exhibition engraved in cricket memory

"My memory doesn't retain any instructions, our conversations," says Cook

The opening pair added 188 in their partnership

Cook's 235 not out was the highest score from an English player in Australia in eight decades

Series Dominance

England capitalised on a remarkable opening session in the second match in Adelaide

Following Anderson's additional wicket the opposition player, the score read 2-3 and couldn't recover

Cook followed up his Brisbane heroics with 148 in a famous match for Kevin Pietersen dismantling the Australian attack

Series Conclusion

England could have retained the urn in Perth, however Johnson to preview the destruction that would come later

What followed was possibly England's finest day of Ashes cricket on Australian soil

In Melbourne, the massive stadium of sports down under, during Boxing Day, the hosts were blown away for 98

"If Carlsberg did Boxing Days, this was it. Incredulity reigned when play concluded," recalls Cook

Ultimate Success

Fuelled by the focus to win the urn, Cook excelled once more at the Sydney Cricket Ground

The 189-run innings lifted England to 644, their best score in a Test in Australia

The debate didn't concern if victory would come the game and series, rather when

"The atmosphere was incredible," recalls Cook

"After Tremlett dismissed the last player to win the match, that was a time of pure elation"

Legacy and Recognition

He earned series honors

The following seven seasons of his Test career were illuminated by other milestones

Post-cricket career, Cook was knighted for services to cricket

"{I couldn't have played any better|