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The Queensland capital isn't a place that offers England badly required Ashes optimism

After defeat by the Australian side in the first Test, the visiting team have to bounce back before heading to Brisbane's Gabba, a stadium where the English haven't triumphed for decades

Men wearing three lions have frequently been easy prey in Brisbane

A Shining Knight's Success

Within recent memory of dashed English dreams, hopes and athletes exists a motivational tale delivered by a cricket hero

It is exactly the 15th anniversary of Sir Alastair Cook conquered the Gabba via a landmark 235 not out, preserving the initial Test of 2010-11 paving England's path to their only Ashes series win down under over nearly four decades

Record-Breaking Performance

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

The legendary Hammond is the only Englishman to score more runs throughout a campaign down under

The English triumphed 3-1, with every win through innings victories

The team hasn't secured success at this venue since that historic campaign

Looking Back

"You forget the challenging periods, the tension and worry that went into that," Cook remembers

"I reflect proudly. I played a significant part in a series when England won 3-1 in Australia with every match was achieved comprehensively"

The Road to Greatness

The path to down under success started a year and a half before following that year's Ashes on home soil

England won, the opener averaged less than 25 managing only one innings above 50

He desired better

"Despite cricket's collective nature, individual contribution generates the feeling that you must contribute adequately," he explains

Skill Development

Two days after the celebrations, he returned hitting hundreds and hundreds bowls during training with Graham Gooch

Early outcomes showed promise

He scored three hundreds on overseas campaigns to South Africa and Bangladesh

Crucial Turning Points

When Cook returned to England during the 2010 season, the left-hander had a "stinker"

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

Scoreless overnight at the end of the second day in the third match against Pakistan in London, Cook was convinced it might be his concluding international appearance ahead of potential omission

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

The Turning Point

The 110-run innings ensured his position on the plane to Australia

The team maintained preparations through successful warm-ups during preparatory contests on Australian soil

When the first Test arrived at the famous ground, they were hit by Peter Siddle's hat-trick

Memorable Collaboration

Just before day three's conclusion, both batsmen opened England's second innings trailing by 221 runs

They reached 19-0 by day's end and proceeded with a performance etched in Ashes folklore

"I cannot recall any instructions, our discussions," says Cook

The opening pair added 188 for the first wicket

The 235 without dismissal was the highest score achieved by a Briton on Australian soil for 82 years

Total Command

The English took advantage of an astonishing first morning during the following Test in South Australia

Following Anderson's additional wicket the opposition player, the hosts stood at 2-3 and couldn't recover

He continued his Queensland achievement with 148 in a famous match featuring Pietersen's destruction of the opposition bowlers

The Final Triumph

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

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

At the MCG, the massive stadium of Australian cricket, on the holiday, the home side were dismissed for 98

"If Carlsberg did Boxing Days, it was that. Amazement prevailed as the day ended," recalls Cook

Ultimate Success

Driven by determination to claim victory, Cook was at it again at the Sydney Cricket Ground

His 189 contributed to England's 644, their best score in a Test in Australia

The uncertainty wasn't whether England would triumph the game and series, but when

"The environment was electric," says Cook

"When Tremlett got the final batsman to secure victory, it represented an instant of complete happiness"

Historical Significance

The batsman received top accolades

The subsequent seven years of his Test career featured further accomplishments

Following his international retirement, he received a knighthood for cricket contributions

"{I couldn't have played any better|