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Brisbane hasn't been a city to give England crucial Ashes optimism

Following the loss to the Australian side during the opening match, the visiting team must stir themselves for a trip to the Gabba, a stadium where the English haven't triumphed for decades

Men wearing three lions have frequently been lambs to the slaughter at this challenging venue

Cook's Memorable Success

Within recent memory of dashed English dreams, dreams and bodies is a source of inspiration provided by a cricket hero

It is exactly 15 years since Sir Alastair Cook dominated in Brisbane via a landmark 235 without loss, rescuing the opening match of 2010-11 establishing England's trajectory toward their sole series victory down under during recent memory

Record-Breaking Performance

It was the beginning of his successful circumnavigation of Australia; three centuries and 766 runs

Cricket great Hammond remains the sole English player with higher run totals throughout a campaign in this country

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

They have not won success at this venue since that historic campaign

Cook's Memories

"You forget the challenging periods, the nervousness and anxiety accompanying that success," Cook remembers

"I reflect proudly. I played a significant part in a tournament that saw England won 3-1 on Australian soil and all three games was achieved comprehensively"

Path to Success

Cook's road toward Australian glory commenced well before at the end of the 2009 Ashes in England

Despite English victory, the opener averaged less than 25 with just one score exceeding half-century

He sought improvement

"Despite cricket's collective nature, personal performance generates the feeling like you want to pull your weight," he explains

Game Improvement

Two days after the victory celebrations, he was back at work hitting hundreds and hundreds bowls during training with Graham Gooch

Early outcomes showed promise

He scored three centuries during winter tours in South Africa and Bangladesh

Career-Defining Moments

Upon his return to British conditions for that year's summer, the batsman had a "stinker"

During eight batting opportunities against Bangladesh and Pakistan, his highest score was 29

Scoreless overnight after day two of the third Test versus Pakistan at The Oval, the batsman felt certain he was playing his concluding international appearance ahead of potential omission

"There I was in the bar, trying to find the answer by drowning sorrows," he admits

Decisive Instance

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

The team maintained preparations by winning two and drawing one of their warm-up games in Australia

Come the first Test in Brisbane, they were hit by a Siddle hat-trick

Historic Partnership

An hour before the third day's close, the opening pair began England's second batting effort needing to overcome 221 runs

They reached 19-0 at stumps and proceeded through a demonstration engraved in cricket memory

"I don't remember any instructions, our conversations," says Cook

Both left-handed batsmen accumulated 188 runs for the first wicket

The 235 without dismissal represented the top score by an Englishman on Australian soil in eight decades

Total Command

The English took advantage of a remarkable opening session during the following Test in South Australia

After Anderson also dismissed Michael Clarke, the hosts stood at 2-3 and never recovered

The batsman proceeded his Queensland achievement with 148 in a famous match for Kevin Pietersen dismantling the Australian attack

Ultimate Victory

England could have retained the urn in Perth, however Johnson to preview the destruction that would come later

The subsequent events included arguably England's best performance in Ashes history in Australia

At the MCG, the massive stadium of sports down under, during Boxing Day, the hosts collapsed to 98 all out

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

The Final Victory

Driven by determination to secure the Ashes, Cook was at it again at the Sydney Cricket Ground

His 189 helped England reach 644, their record innings in a Test in Australia

The uncertainty wasn't if victory would come both match and urn, rather when

"The atmosphere was incredible," recalls Cook

"After Tremlett dismissed the final batsman to win the match, it represented an instant of complete happiness"

Historical Significance

He earned series honors

The subsequent seven years in his international career were illuminated by other milestones

Post-cricket career, he received a knighthood for sporting achievements

"{I couldn't have played any better|