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Brisbane hasn't been a place that offers England some much-needed confidence in the series

Following the loss to Australia during the opening match, the visiting team must stir themselves before heading to the Gabba, a stadium where the English haven't triumphed for over thirty years

Men wearing three lions have habitually been outmatched opponents in Brisbane

Cook's Memorable Achievement

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

Today commemorates 15 years since Sir Alastair Cook mastered the Gabba through a defining 235 without loss, rescuing the opening match from the 2010-11 series establishing England's trajectory toward their sole series victory down under over nearly four decades

Historic Achievement

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

Wally Hammond stands as the only Briton to score more runs during a Test series on Australian soil

Victory came 3-1, with all victories via comprehensive wins

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

Personal Reflections

"One tends to forget the difficult moments, the nervousness and anxiety involved in that achievement," Cook recalls

"With pride I remember. I played a significant part in a series when the English secured a 3-1 victory in Australia where each victory were won by an innings"

Path to Success

Cook's road toward Australian glory began 18 months earlier at the end of the 2009 series on home soil

Though England triumphed, the opening batsman had an average below 25 managing only one innings exceeding half-century

He wanted more

"Cricket is a team game, the individuality creates the sensation that you must contribute adequately," he explains

Technical Transformation

Shortly after the celebrations, he returned practicing numerous bowls during training under Graham Gooch's guidance

Early outcomes were encouraging

The batsman achieved three centuries during winter tours to South Africa and Bangladesh

Career-Defining Moments

Upon his return to home soil during the 2010 season, Cook had a "stinker"

In eight innings versus Bangladesh and Pakistan, his top innings was 29

Scoreless overnight following the second day in the third match facing Pakistan at the famous ground, the batsman felt certain he was playing his last Test innings before being dropped

"There I was at the bar, seeking the answer by drowning sorrows," he admits

Critical Moment

Cook's 110 secured his place for the Australian tour

The team maintained preparations through successful warm-ups of their warm-up games in Australia

Come the first Test at the famous ground, they were hit by Peter Siddle's hat-trick

Record-Breaking Stand

Shortly prior to day three's conclusion, both batsmen started the English reply needing to overcome 221 runs

They achieved 19 without loss at stumps and proceeded through a demonstration remembered in Ashes history

"My memory doesn't retain specific guidance, anything of what we spoke about," recalls Cook

The opening pair accumulated 188 runs for the first wicket

His unbeaten 235 was the highest score achieved by a Briton down under for 82 years

Total Command

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

When Anderson also nicked off Michael Clarke, Australia were 2-3 and couldn't recover

The batsman proceeded his Queensland achievement through a 148-run innings in a famous match highlighting Pietersen's dominance over the Australian attack

Ultimate Victory

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

Then came arguably England's best performance of Ashes cricket in Australia

At the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the 100,000-seater cathedral of Australian sport, and on Boxing Day, the home side collapsed to 98 all out

"If Carlsberg did Boxing Days, it was that. Incredulity reigned when play concluded," says Cook

Ultimate Success

Fuelled by the focus to win the urn, Cook was at it again in Sydney

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

The question was not whether England would triumph both match and urn, but when

"The atmosphere was incredible," Cook remembers

"When Tremlett got the last player to win the match, it was a moment of complete happiness"

Historical Significance

Cook was player of the series

The remaining seven years in his international career included further accomplishments

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

"{I couldn't have played any better|