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The Queensland capital isn't a place that offers the Three Lions some much-needed Ashes optimism

In the wake of losing to Australia at the series start, the visiting team have to bounce back ahead of visiting the famous Gabba, a venue where England have not won for over thirty years

English cricketers have habitually been easy prey at this challenging venue

A Shining Knight's Success

Within recent memory of English disappointments, aspirations and players is a source of inspiration achieved by a cricket hero

It is exactly 15 years since Sir Alastair Cook dominated in Brisbane with a career-defining 235 without loss, saving the first Test during that famous series establishing England's trajectory to their only Ashes series win down under in the past 38 years

Historic Achievement

It was the beginning of his successful circumnavigation of Australia; three centuries accumulating 766 runs

Cricket great Hammond is the only Englishman with higher run totals throughout a campaign on Australian soil

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

The team hasn't secured a Test here since that historic campaign

Cook's Memories

"You forget the tough times, the apprehension and concern that went into that," Cook recalls

"I reflect proudly. I made an important impact in a series when England triumphed 3-1 on Australian soil where each victory came through innings wins"

Path to Success

Cook's road toward Australian glory began 18 months earlier after the 2009 series in the UK

England won, the opening batsman had an average below 25 managing only one innings exceeding half-century

He wanted more

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

Skill Development

Shortly after the victory celebrations, he was back at work facing countless bowls during training with Graham Gooch

The initial results were encouraging

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

Pivotal Instances

Upon his return to England during the 2010 season, Cook had a "stinker"

In eight innings versus Bangladesh and Pakistan, his best performance reached only 29

Without runs after day two of the third Test versus Pakistan at the famous ground, Cook believed it might be his final Test performance prior to selection

"There I was at the bar, trying to find the solution through drinking," he confesses

Decisive Instance

His century ensured his position in the squad down under

The team maintained preparations through successful warm-ups during preparatory contests in Australia

Come the first Test at the Gabba, they faced three wickets from Siddle

Historic Partnership

Just before the third day's close, Cook and Strauss opened England's second innings needing to overcome 221 runs

They achieved 19 without loss at stumps and followed up through a demonstration etched in Ashes folklore

"I don't remember the messages, our conversations," says Cook

The opening pair contributed 188 in their partnership

The 235 without dismissal was the highest score from an English player on Australian soil since the 1930s

Series Dominance

England capitalised on an incredible start during the following Test in Adelaide

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

He continued his Brisbane heroics by scoring 148 in a famous match for Kevin Pietersen dismantling the opposition bowlers

The Final Triumph

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

Then came arguably England's best performance of Ashes cricket down under

At the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the enormous ground of Australian cricket, on the holiday, the hosts were blown away for 98

"If Carlsberg did Boxing Days, that defined it. Incredulity reigned at the end of the day," says Cook

The Final Victory

Driven by determination to secure the Ashes, the batsman performed brilliantly at the Sydney Cricket Ground

His 189 lifted England to 644, their best score during Australian Tests

The debate didn't concern if England would win both match and urn, but the timing

"The environment was electric," recalls Cook

"When Tremlett got the final batsman to secure victory, that was a time of pure elation"

Enduring Impact

Cook was player of the series

The following seven seasons in his international career featured further accomplishments

After retiring internationally, Cook was knighted for cricket contributions

"{I couldn't have played any better|