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The Queensland capital isn't a place that offers England badly required Ashes optimism

In the wake of losing to the Australian side during the opening match, the tourists have to bounce back before heading to the famous Gabba, a ground where victory has eluded England since 1986

English cricketers have often become easy prey at the Gabbatoir

The Inspirational Achievement

Within recent memory of broken English hopes, hopes and athletes lies an inspirational story achieved by a shining knight

It is exactly a decade and a half after Sir Alastair Cook dominated in Brisbane with a career-defining 235 not out, rescuing the opening match from the 2010-11 series establishing England's trajectory for their unique Ashes triumph down under in the past 38 years

Historic Achievement

This marked the start of the victorious Australian campaign; three centuries totaling 766 runs

The legendary Hammond stands as the only Briton to score more runs in a series on Australian soil

The English triumphed 3-1, with every win through innings victories

England hasn't achieved a Test here since that memorable series

Cook's Memories

"You forget the difficult moments, the apprehension and concern that went into that," Cook remembers

"I look back with pride. My contribution was substantial in a tournament that saw England triumphed 3-1 on Australian soil where each victory were won by an innings"

Journey to Excellence

Cook's road to down under success began 18 months earlier after the 2009 series in the UK

England won, the opener had an average below 25 achieving merely one performance above 50

He sought improvement

"While cricket involves teamwork, individual contribution generates the feeling that personal responsibility matters," he states

Skill Development

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

The initial results proved positive

Cook made three hundred-run innings on the 2009-10 winter tours in South Africa and Bangladesh

Crucial Turning Points

After coming back to British conditions for the 2010 summer, the batsman had a "stinker"

In eight innings against Bangladesh and Pakistan, his best performance was 29

On nought not out after the second day's play of the third Test facing Pakistan at The Oval, Cook was convinced it might be his final Test performance ahead of potential omission

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

Critical Moment

Cook's 110 secured his place in the squad down under

England continued their preparations by winning two and drawing one of their warm-up games on Australian soil

As the opening match began at the famous ground, they faced three wickets from Siddle

Historic Partnership

Shortly prior to the end of the third day, the opening pair opened England's second innings trailing by 221 runs

The score stood at 19-0 at stumps then continued with an exhibition remembered in Ashes history

"I cannot recall specific guidance, our conversations," Cook remembers

The opening pair contributed 188 for the first wicket

His unbeaten 235 stood as the best performance by an Englishman in Australia since the 1930s

Total Command

England exploited an incredible start in the second match in South Australia

Following Anderson's additional wicket Michael Clarke, the score read 2-3 and couldn't recover

Cook followed up his Brisbane heroics by scoring 148 in a famous match featuring Pietersen's destruction of the opposition bowlers

Ultimate Victory

Victory was possible the series in Western Australia, but Mitchell Johnson to preview the destruction that would come later

What followed was arguably England's best performance in Ashes history in Australia

In Melbourne, the 100,000-seater cathedral of Australian cricket, during Boxing Day, the hosts were dismissed for 98

"If Carlsberg did Boxing Days, that defined it. Amazement prevailed at the end of the day," recalls Cook

The Final Victory

Motivated by purpose to win the urn, Cook excelled once more at the Sydney Cricket Ground

His 189 lifted England to 644, their best score during Australian Tests

The question was not if victory would come the game and series, rather when

"The atmosphere was incredible," Cook remembers

"Following Tremlett's wicket of the final batsman to claim triumph, that was a time of absolute joy"

Enduring Impact

He earned series honors

The subsequent seven years of his cricket journey included further accomplishments

After retiring internationally, Cook was knighted for sporting achievements

"{I couldn't have played any better|