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Brisbane hasn't been a place that offers the English team some much-needed Ashes optimism

In the wake of losing to Australia during the opening match, the visiting team need to regroup ahead of visiting the Gabba, a stadium where victory has eluded England for decades

Men wearing three lions have often become lambs to the slaughter at this challenging venue

Cook's Memorable Achievement

Throughout modern times of broken English hopes, dreams and bodies exists a motivational tale achieved by an exceptional player

It is exactly the 15th anniversary of the legendary Cook mastered the Gabba with a career-defining unbeaten 235, saving the first Test of 2010-11 and setting England on course for their unique Ashes triumph down under during recent memory

Unforgettable Series

It commenced of the victorious circumnavigation of Australia; three hundred-plus scores accumulating 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 every win by an innings

England hasn't achieved success at this venue since that historic campaign

Looking Back

"People overlook the tough times, the nervousness and anxiety accompanying that success," the cricketer reflects

"With pride I remember. I played a significant part during a campaign where the English secured a 3-1 victory down under with every match came through innings wins"

The Road to Greatness

The path to down under success began 18 months earlier after the 2009 series in England

Despite English victory, the opening batsman averaged less than 25 achieving merely one performance over fifty

He desired better

"While cricket involves teamwork, the individuality generates the feeling that you must contribute adequately," he notes

Technical Transformation

Just 48 hours following the celebrations, he was back at work facing countless of balls in the nets under Graham Gooch's guidance

The initial results were encouraging

Cook made three hundreds on the 2009-10 winter tours in South Africa and Bangladesh

Crucial Turning Points

Upon his return to England for the 2010 summer, the left-hander performed poorly

During eight batting opportunities facing these opponents, his highest score was 29

Scoreless overnight after the second day's play in the third match versus Pakistan in London, Cook believed this would be his concluding international appearance before being dropped

"There I was at the bar, trying to find the resolution in the bottom of a beer bottle," he admits

Critical Moment

His century ensured his position on the plane to Australia

Preparation continued with two victories and one draw of their warm-up games down under

When the first Test arrived at the Gabba, they were hit by a Siddle hat-trick

Memorable Collaboration

An hour before the end of the third day, the opening pair opened England's second innings trailing by 221 runs

They achieved 19 without loss when play concluded then continued with a performance engraved in cricket memory

"My memory doesn't retain any instructions, our discussions," recalls Cook

Both left-handed batsmen added 188 together

The 235 without dismissal was the highest score from an English player down under in eight decades

Total Command

England exploited a remarkable opening session of the second Test in South Australia

When Anderson also nicked off the Australian batsman, the hosts stood at 2-3 and never recovered

Cook followed up his Queensland achievement through a 148-run innings in a Test remembered highlighting Pietersen's dominance over the Australian attack

The Final Triumph

The English might have secured the series in Western Australia, but Mitchell Johnson to preview the destruction that would come later

Then came possibly England's finest day in Ashes history on Australian soil

At the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the enormous ground of Australian cricket, and on Boxing Day, the Australian team were blown away for 98

"If perfection existed for Boxing Day, this was it. There was disbelief when play concluded," says Cook

The Final Victory

Motivated by purpose to win the urn, Cook was at it again in Sydney

The 189-run innings lifted England to 644, their record innings in a Test in Australia

The uncertainty wasn't if victory would come both match and urn, rather when

"The feeling was unbelievable," recalls Cook

"After Tremlett dismissed the last player to claim triumph, it was a moment of pure elation"

Historical Significance

The batsman received top accolades

The remaining seven years of his Test career featured other milestones

After retiring internationally, Cook was knighted for cricket contributions

"{I couldn't have played any better|