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The Queensland capital isn't a city to give England crucial confidence in the series

After defeat by Australia during the opening match, England have to bounce back for a trip to the famous Gabba, a venue where England have not won since 1986

Men wearing three lions have frequently been easy prey at this challenging venue

Cook's Memorable Triumph

Within recent memory of dashed English dreams, aspirations and players is a source of inspiration delivered by an exceptional player

It is exactly 15 years since Alastair Cook mastered the Gabba with a career-defining 235 without loss, preserving the initial Test from the 2010-11 series establishing England's trajectory toward their sole series victory in Australia over nearly four decades

Unforgettable Series

It was the beginning of Cook's triumphant Australian campaign; three hundreds totaling 766 runs

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

England won 3-1, where each success via comprehensive wins

The team hasn't secured a Test victory there since that memorable series

Cook's Memories

"One tends to forget the challenging periods, the apprehension and concern that went into that," Cook recalls

"With pride I remember. I made an important impact in a tournament that saw England triumphed 3-1 in Australia and all three games was achieved comprehensively"

Journey to Excellence

Cook's road to down under success commenced well before at the end of the 2009 series on home soil

Though England triumphed, Cook scored under 25 per innings managing only one innings exceeding half-century

He wanted more

"Despite cricket's collective nature, the individuality creates the sensation that personal responsibility matters," he explains

Game Improvement

Just 48 hours following the victory celebrations, he was back facing countless bowls during training under Graham Gooch's guidance

The initial results showed promise

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

Crucial Turning Points

When Cook returned to home soil for that year's summer, the batsman struggled significantly

During eight batting opportunities facing these opponents, his best performance totaled just 29 runs

Scoreless overnight at the end of the second day's play of the third Test facing Pakistan at The Oval, Cook believed this would be his last Test innings prior to selection

"There I was in the hospitality area, seeking the answer through drinking," he reveals

Decisive Instance

Cook's 110 guaranteed his seat for the Australian tour

The team maintained preparations through successful warm-ups in practice matches down under

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

Memorable Collaboration

An hour before day three's conclusion, both batsmen began England's second batting effort needing to overcome 221 runs

The score stood at 19-0 by day's end then continued with a performance etched in Ashes folklore

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

The left-handers contributed 188 for the first wicket

The 235 without dismissal stood as the best performance from an English player in Australia for 82 years

Total Command

England capitalised on a remarkable opening session in the second match in Adelaide

Following Anderson's additional wicket Michael Clarke, the hosts stood at 2-3 and struggled throughout

He continued his Queensland achievement through a 148-run innings during a memorable Test highlighting Pietersen's dominance over the Australian bowling

The Final Triumph

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

The subsequent events included perhaps England's single greatest day in Ashes history on Australian soil

At the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the massive stadium of Australian sport, and on Boxing Day, the Australian team were blown away for 98

"If Carlsberg did Boxing Days, it was that. 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

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

The uncertainty wasn't if victory would come the match and the Ashes, but when

"The environment was electric," says Cook

"Following Tremlett's wicket of the final batsman to secure victory, that was a time of complete happiness"

Enduring Impact

The batsman received top accolades

The subsequent seven years in his international career included other milestones

After retiring internationally, he received a knighthood for services to cricket

"{I couldn't have played any better|