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Brisbane hasn't been a place that offers the Three Lions badly required confidence in the series

In the wake of losing to Australia in the first Test, England have to bounce back for a trip to the Gabba, a ground where England have not won for over thirty years

English cricketers have often become easy prey in Brisbane

A Shining Knight's Achievement

Within recent memory of dashed English dreams, hopes and athletes lies an inspirational story achieved by an exceptional player

Today commemorates 15 years since Sir Alastair Cook mastered the Gabba through a defining unbeaten 235, rescuing the opening match during that famous series establishing England's trajectory to their only Ashes series win down under in the past 38 years

Record-Breaking Performance

This marked the start of Cook's triumphant tour of Australia; three hundreds totaling 766 runs

Wally Hammond remains the sole English player to score more runs in a series in this country

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

They have not won a Test here since those glory days

Looking Back

"People overlook the difficult moments, the apprehension and concern involved in that achievement," the cricketer reflects

"I reflect proudly. I played a significant part in a tournament that saw England triumphed 3-1 in Australia and all three games came through innings wins"

The Road to Greatness

His journey toward Australian glory started a year and a half before after the 2009 series in England

Though England triumphed, Cook had an average below 25 managing only one innings above 50

He wanted more

"Cricket is a team game, the individuality does make you feel that you must contribute adequately," he notes

Game Improvement

Two days after the celebrations, he returned practicing numerous deliveries in practice under Graham Gooch's guidance

The initial results showed promise

Cook made three hundred-run innings on overseas campaigns in South Africa and Bangladesh

Pivotal Instances

When Cook returned to England for the 2010 summer, the left-hander had a "stinker"

Across eight appearances against Bangladesh and Pakistan, his highest score was 29

On nought not out after the second day's play in the third match facing Pakistan at The Oval, Cook believed this would be his last Test innings prior to selection

"I was sitting in the hospitality area, seeking the answer by drowning sorrows," he confesses

Decisive Instance

Cook's 110 secured his place for the Australian tour

Preparation continued by winning two and drawing one during preparatory contests down under

When the first Test arrived at the famous ground, they encountered three wickets from Siddle

Historic Partnership

Shortly prior to day three's conclusion, Cook and Strauss started the English reply trailing by 221 runs

They reached 19-0 at stumps and proceeded through a demonstration remembered in Ashes history

"My memory doesn't retain specific guidance, our conversations," recalls Cook

Both left-handed batsmen contributed 188 for the first wicket

His unbeaten 235 represented the top score achieved by a Briton down under since the 1930s

Total Command

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

After Anderson also dismissed the Australian batsman, Australia were 2-3 and couldn't recover

The batsman proceeded his Queensland achievement with 148 in a famous match highlighting Pietersen's dominance over the Australian bowling

Ultimate Victory

The English might have secured the Ashes in Perth, only for Mitchell Johnson to foreshadow the havoc that would come later

Then came arguably England's best performance of Ashes cricket down under

At the MCG, the 100,000-seater cathedral of sports down under, and on Boxing Day, the home side were dismissed for 98

"If perfection existed for Boxing Day, that defined it. There was disbelief as the day ended," Cook remembers

The Final Victory

Motivated by purpose to claim victory, Cook excelled once more in Sydney

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

The uncertainty wasn't if victory would come the game and series, rather when

"The feeling was unbelievable," Cook remembers

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

Enduring Impact

Cook was player of the series

The remaining seven years of his cricket journey included other milestones

After retiring internationally, he received a knighthood for sporting achievements

"{I couldn't have played any better|