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The Queensland capital isn't a city to give the English team crucial Ashes optimism

After defeat by the Australian side at the series start, the visiting team must stir themselves ahead of visiting the Gabba, a ground where the English haven't triumphed for decades

English cricketers have frequently been easy prey at this challenging venue

A Shining Knight's Achievement

Within recent memory of dashed English dreams, aspirations and players lies an inspirational story delivered by a cricket hero

Today commemorates the 15th anniversary of Sir Alastair Cook conquered the Gabba via a landmark unbeaten 235, preserving the initial Test during that famous series and setting England on course toward their sole series victory on Australian soil over nearly four decades

Historic Achievement

This marked the start of Cook's triumphant circumnavigation of Australia; three centuries and 766 runs

The legendary Hammond stands as the only Briton who has made more runs throughout a campaign on Australian soil

Victory came 3-1, where each success through innings victories

England hasn't achieved a Test here since that memorable series

Personal Reflections

"One tends to forget the tough times, the apprehension and concern that went into that," the cricketer reflects

"I look back with pride. I made an important impact in a series when the English secured a 3-1 victory on Australian soil where each victory came through innings wins"

Path to Success

His journey toward Australian glory commenced well before at the end of the 2009 Ashes on home soil

Despite English victory, Cook averaged less than 25 achieving merely one performance above 50

He sought improvement

"Cricket is a team game, individual contribution creates the sensation that personal responsibility matters," he states

Skill Development

Two days after the celebrations, he returned hitting hundreds and hundreds deliveries in practice under Graham Gooch's guidance

Early outcomes showed promise

Cook made three hundreds on the 2009-10 winter tours against South African and Bangladeshi teams

Pivotal Instances

Upon his return to home soil for the 2010 summer, Cook performed poorly

In eight innings against Bangladesh and Pakistan, his top innings totaled just 29 runs

On nought not out following the second day's play in the third match against Pakistan in London, the batsman felt certain he was playing his final Test performance ahead of potential omission

"There I was at the bar, trying to find the resolution through drinking," he reveals

Decisive Instance

The 110-run innings guaranteed his seat on the plane to Australia

Preparation continued with two victories and one draw during preparatory contests on Australian soil

When the first Test arrived at the famous ground, they were hit by three wickets from Siddle

Record-Breaking Stand

An hour before the end of the third day, both batsmen opened England's second innings needing to overcome 221 runs

They achieved 19 without loss by day's end and followed up with a performance remembered in Ashes history

"My memory doesn't retain the messages, our conversations," Cook remembers

The left-handers accumulated 188 runs for the first wicket

Cook's 235 not out stood as the best performance from an English player down under since the 1930s

Complete Control

England capitalised on an astonishing first morning during the following Test in Adelaide

After Anderson also dismissed the Australian batsman, the score read 2-3 and never recovered

The batsman proceeded his Brisbane heroics through a 148-run innings in a famous match featuring Pietersen's destruction of the opposition bowlers

Series Conclusion

England could have retained the urn in Perth, but Mitchell Johnson to foreshadow the havoc from future encounters

What followed was perhaps England's single greatest day in Ashes history on Australian soil

In Melbourne, the 100,000-seater cathedral of Australian sport, during Boxing Day, the hosts collapsed to 98 all out

"If perfection existed for Boxing Day, it was that. Amazement prevailed when play concluded," says Cook

The Final Victory

Fuelled by the focus to claim victory, Cook excelled once more in Sydney

His score of 189 contributed to England's 644, their highest total on Australian soil

The question was not if victory would come the match and the Ashes, but the timing

"The environment was electric," Cook remembers

"When Tremlett got Michael Beer to win the match, it was a moment of absolute joy"

Legacy and Recognition

Cook was player of the series

The subsequent seven years of his Test career featured further accomplishments

Following his international retirement, he received a knighthood for services to cricket

"{I couldn't have played any better|