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The Queensland capital isn't a city to give the Three Lions some much-needed Ashes optimism

After defeat by the Australian side during the opening match, the visiting team have to bounce back ahead of visiting Brisbane's Gabba, a ground where victory has eluded England since 1986

Men wearing three lions have frequently been lambs to the slaughter at this challenging venue

A Shining Knight's Triumph

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

Today commemorates 15 years since Alastair Cook conquered the Gabba through a defining 235 not out, rescuing the opening match from the 2010-11 series establishing England's trajectory for their unique Ashes triumph down under over nearly four decades

Record-Breaking Performance

This marked the start of the victorious tour of Australia; three centuries and 766 runs

Cricket great Hammond remains the sole English player to score more runs throughout a campaign on Australian soil

Victory came 3-1, with all victories by an innings

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

Cook's Memories

"You forget the challenging periods, the tension and worry involved in that achievement," the cricketer reflects

"I reflect proudly. My contribution was substantial 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 at the end of the 2009 Ashes on home soil

Though England triumphed, Cook had an average below 25 achieving merely one performance over fifty

He wanted more

"Despite cricket's collective nature, the individuality does make you feel that personal responsibility matters," he notes

Technical Transformation

Just 48 hours following the victory celebrations, he returned hitting hundreds and hundreds bowls during training with Graham Gooch

Early outcomes were encouraging

The batsman achieved three centuries during winter tours against South African and Bangladeshi teams

Crucial Turning Points

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

In eight innings facing these opponents, his highest score reached only 29

Scoreless overnight following day two in the third match against Pakistan in London, Cook was convinced he was playing his concluding international appearance ahead of potential omission

"I found myself at the bar, seeking the resolution in the bottom of a beer bottle," he confesses

The Turning Point

His century secured his place in the squad down under

Preparation continued by winning two and drawing one during preparatory contests in Australia

As the opening match began at the Gabba, they faced three wickets from Siddle

Memorable Collaboration

Shortly prior to the end of the third day, Cook and Strauss started the English reply with a deficit of 221 runs

They reached 19-0 at stumps and proceeded with an exhibition etched in Ashes folklore

"My memory doesn't retain specific guidance, our discussions," says Cook

The opening pair added 188 in their partnership

His unbeaten 235 stood as the best performance from an English player down under since the 1930s

Series Dominance

England exploited a remarkable opening session of the second Test at Adelaide

Following Anderson's additional wicket the Australian batsman, the score read 2-3 and never recovered

Cook followed up his Brisbane success with 148 in a Test remembered featuring Pietersen's destruction of the Australian bowling

The Final Triumph

England could have retained the series in Western Australia, only for Mitchell Johnson to preview the destruction he would cause four years later

What followed was possibly England's finest day of Ashes cricket down under

At the MCG, the enormous ground of Australian sport, and on Boxing Day, the home side collapsed to 98 all out

"For ideal Boxing Days, this was it. Amazement prevailed at the end of the day," recalls Cook

The Final Victory

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

The 189-run innings helped England reach 644, their best score during Australian Tests

The question was not whether England would triumph the match and the Ashes, but when

"The atmosphere was incredible," Cook remembers

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

Historical Significance

The batsman received top accolades

The following seven seasons of his cricket journey featured additional achievements

Post-cricket career, he received a knighthood for cricket contributions

"{I couldn't have played any better|