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Brisbane is not a city to give England badly required Ashes optimism

In the wake of losing to Australia during the opening match, the tourists have to bounce back for a trip to the famous Gabba, a venue where England have not won for decades

Players representing England have often become lambs to the slaughter in Brisbane

The Inspirational Achievement

Among a recent history of English disappointments, hopes and athletes is a source of inspiration achieved by a shining knight

This marks a decade and a half after Sir Alastair Cook mastered the Gabba via a landmark unbeaten 235, rescuing the opening match of 2010-11 paving England's path for their unique Ashes triumph down under in the past 38 years

Unforgettable Series

It was the beginning of Cook's triumphant circumnavigation of Australia; three centuries and 766 runs

The legendary Hammond remains the sole English player with higher run totals throughout a campaign down under

England won 3-1, where each success by an innings

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

Personal Reflections

"You forget the difficult moments, the tension and worry involved in that achievement," the cricketer reflects

"I look back with pride. I played a significant part during a campaign where England won 3-1 on Australian soil with every match came through innings wins"

Path to Success

Cook's road toward Australian glory commenced well before following the 2009 Ashes in the UK

Though England triumphed, the opener averaged less than 25 achieving merely one performance over fifty

He sought improvement

"While cricket involves teamwork, personal performance does make you feel like you want to pull your weight," he explains

Technical Transformation

Two days after the celebrations, he was back at work facing countless of balls in the nets alongside Graham Gooch

Early outcomes proved positive

Cook made three hundred-run innings during winter tours against South African and Bangladeshi teams

Pivotal Instances

Upon his return to England for that year's summer, the left-hander struggled significantly

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

On nought not out following the second day's play of the third Test facing Pakistan in London, the batsman felt certain it might be his concluding international appearance before being dropped

"I was sitting in the hospitality area, trying to find the resolution by drowning sorrows," he reveals

Critical Moment

Cook's 110 guaranteed his seat on the plane to Australia

The team maintained preparations with two victories and one draw of their warm-up games down under

When the first Test arrived in Brisbane, they were hit by Peter Siddle's hat-trick

Historic Partnership

Just before the third day's close, Cook and Strauss started the English reply needing to overcome 221 runs

The score stood at 19-0 by day's end then continued with a performance engraved in cricket memory

"My memory doesn't retain the messages, anything of what we spoke about," says Cook

Both left-handed batsmen added 188 in their partnership

Cook's 235 not out was the highest score from an English player on Australian soil in eight decades

Complete Control

England exploited an incredible start in the second match at Adelaide

When Anderson also nicked off the opposition player, Australia were 2-3 and couldn't recover

The batsman proceeded his Brisbane success by scoring 148 in a Test remembered featuring Pietersen's destruction of the Australian attack

Ultimate Victory

England could have retained the urn in Perth, but Mitchell Johnson to foreshadow the havoc that would come later

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

At the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the massive stadium of Australian cricket, during Boxing Day, the home side collapsed to 98 all out

"For ideal Boxing Days, it was that. Incredulity reigned at the end of the day," says Cook

Series Conclusion

Motivated by purpose to win the urn, the batsman performed brilliantly in Sydney

The 189-run innings contributed to England's 644, their best score during Australian Tests

The debate didn't concern if England would win the match and the Ashes, rather when

"The environment was electric," says Cook

"When Tremlett got the last player to win the match, it represented an instant of pure elation"

Enduring Impact

He earned series honors

The subsequent seven years of his Test career were illuminated by further accomplishments

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

"{I couldn't have played any better|