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The Queensland capital isn't a city to give the English team badly required confidence in the series

Following the loss to Australia in the first Test, the tourists must stir themselves ahead of visiting Brisbane's Gabba, a stadium where England have not won for over thirty years

Players representing England have habitually been lambs to the slaughter at the Gabbatoir

Cook's Memorable Success

Throughout modern times of English disappointments, hopes and athletes is a source of inspiration delivered by a shining knight

It is exactly 15 years since Alastair Cook dominated in Brisbane with a career-defining 235 not out, saving the first Test from the 2010-11 series establishing England's trajectory toward their sole series victory down under during recent memory

Historic Achievement

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

Wally Hammond is the only Englishman with higher run totals in a series on Australian soil

England won 3-1, with every win via comprehensive wins

England hasn't achieved a Test victory there since that historic campaign

Looking Back

"You forget the challenging periods, the apprehension and concern accompanying that success," Cook recalls

"I look back with pride. I played a significant part in a tournament that saw the English secured a 3-1 victory in Australia where each victory was achieved comprehensively"

The Road to Greatness

The path to down under success commenced well before following the 2009 Ashes in the UK

Despite English victory, the opener averaged less than 25 managing only one innings over fifty

He desired better

"Despite cricket's collective nature, individual contribution does make you feel like you want to pull your weight," he explains

Skill Development

Shortly after the triumphant events, he returned hitting hundreds and hundreds bowls during training with Graham Gooch

Early outcomes proved positive

Cook made three hundred-run innings during winter tours in South Africa and Bangladesh

Career-Defining Moments

After coming back to British conditions for the 2010 summer, the left-hander struggled significantly

During eight batting opportunities facing these opponents, his best performance was 29

On nought not out after day two of the third Test against Pakistan at the famous ground, the batsman felt certain it might be his concluding international appearance before being dropped

"There I was at the bar, attempting to discover the solution by drowning sorrows," he confesses

Decisive Instance

Cook's 110 ensured his position in the squad down under

Preparation continued with two victories and one draw in practice matches down under

As the opening match began at the Gabba, they faced a Siddle hat-trick

Memorable Collaboration

Just before the end of the third day, Cook and Strauss opened England's second innings trailing by 221 runs

They reached 19-0 when play concluded then continued with an exhibition etched in Ashes folklore

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

The left-handers accumulated 188 runs in their partnership

His unbeaten 235 stood as the best performance by an Englishman down under for 82 years

Complete Control

The English took advantage of an astonishing first morning in the second match in South Australia

When Anderson also nicked off the opposition player, the hosts stood at 2-3 and couldn't recover

The batsman proceeded his Brisbane heroics with 148 in a Test remembered featuring Pietersen's destruction of the Australian attack

Series Conclusion

The English might have secured the Ashes in Perth, but Mitchell Johnson to foreshadow the havoc that would come later

What followed was arguably England's best performance during Ashes competition on Australian soil

At the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the 100,000-seater cathedral of sports down under, during Boxing Day, the hosts collapsed to 98 all out

"If perfection existed for Boxing Day, it was that. Amazement prevailed as the day ended," Cook remembers

The Final Victory

Motivated by purpose to claim victory, Cook excelled once more in Sydney

His score of 189 helped England reach 644, their record innings during Australian Tests

The debate didn't concern whether England would triumph both match and urn, rather when

"The atmosphere was incredible," says Cook

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

Legacy and Recognition

The batsman received top accolades

The remaining seven years of his Test career were illuminated by further accomplishments

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

"{I couldn't have played any better|