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Brisbane is not a location providing the English team some much-needed confidence in the series

In the wake of losing to the Australian side in the first Test, the tourists need to regroup for a trip to Brisbane's Gabba, a stadium where England have not won for over thirty years

English cricketers have often become outmatched opponents in Brisbane

A Shining Knight's Triumph

Within recent memory of broken English hopes, hopes and athletes exists a motivational tale provided by a shining knight

Today commemorates 15 years since Sir Alastair Cook conquered the Gabba via a landmark 235 without loss, saving the first Test during that famous series and setting England on course for their unique Ashes triumph on Australian soil during recent memory

Record-Breaking Performance

This marked the start of Cook's triumphant tour of Australia; three hundred-plus scores totaling 766 runs

The legendary Hammond remains the sole English player who has made more runs throughout a campaign in this country

England won 3-1, with every win via comprehensive wins

England hasn't achieved a Test here since that historic campaign

Cook's Memories

"You forget the challenging periods, the apprehension and concern that went into that," the cricketer reflects

"I reflect proudly. I played a significant part in a series when the English secured a 3-1 victory down under with every match was achieved comprehensively"

The Road to Greatness

His journey to his Australian epic started a year and a half before following the 2009 Ashes in the UK

Despite English victory, the opening batsman had an average below 25 with just one score exceeding half-century

He wanted more

"Cricket is a team game, personal performance creates the sensation that you must contribute adequately," he states

Technical Transformation

Just 48 hours following the triumphant events, he was back hitting hundreds and hundreds bowls during training under Graham Gooch's guidance

Beginning performances were encouraging

The batsman achieved three centuries on the 2009-10 winter tours in South Africa and Bangladesh

Pivotal Instances

When Cook returned to England for that year's summer, the batsman performed poorly

Across eight appearances against Bangladesh and Pakistan, his top innings was 29

On nought not out after day two during the final Test against Pakistan in London, the batsman felt certain it might be his final Test performance before being dropped

"I was sitting in the hospitality area, trying to find the resolution through drinking," he confesses

Critical Moment

His century secured his place on the plane to Australia

Preparation continued through successful warm-ups of their warm-up games on Australian soil

When the first Test arrived at the Gabba, they faced Peter Siddle's hat-trick

Memorable Collaboration

An hour before the end of the third day, both batsmen started the English reply needing to overcome 221 runs

The score stood at 19-0 by day's end and proceeded with an exhibition engraved in cricket memory

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

The opening pair accumulated 188 runs together

The 235 without dismissal represented the top score from an English player in Australia for 82 years

Series Dominance

England capitalised on an astonishing first morning of the second Test at Adelaide

When Anderson also nicked off the Australian batsman, Australia were 2-3 and never recovered

The batsman proceeded his Queensland achievement with 148 in a Test remembered highlighting Pietersen's dominance over the opposition bowlers

Series Conclusion

Victory was possible the Ashes in Perth, but Mitchell Johnson to foreshadow the havoc that would come later

The subsequent events included possibly England's finest day in Ashes history down under

In Melbourne, the enormous ground of Australian sport, on the holiday, the home side collapsed to 98 all out

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

The Final Victory

Driven by determination to secure the Ashes, Cook was at it again at the SCG

His score of 189 helped England reach 644, their best score in a Test in Australia

The question was not if England would win the match and the Ashes, rather when

"The feeling was unbelievable," Cook remembers

"Following Tremlett's wicket of the final batsman to claim triumph, it was a moment of pure elation"

Enduring Impact

Cook was player of the series

The following seven seasons in his international career featured further accomplishments

Post-cricket career, he was honored for sporting achievements

"{I couldn't have played any better|