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Brisbane is not a city to give England crucial Ashes optimism

After defeat by Australia at the series start, England have to bounce back for a trip to Brisbane's Gabba, a venue where England have not won since 1986

Men wearing three lions have often become easy prey at the Gabbatoir

A Shining Knight's Triumph

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

It is exactly the 15th anniversary of Sir Alastair Cook dominated in Brisbane via a landmark unbeaten 235, saving the first Test during that famous series and setting England on course for their unique Ashes triumph down under in the past 38 years

Unforgettable Series

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

Wally Hammond stands as the only Briton with higher run totals throughout a campaign down under

England won 3-1, where each success via comprehensive wins

The team hasn't secured a Test here since those glory days

Cook's Memories

"You forget the difficult moments, the nervousness and anxiety accompanying that success," the cricketer reflects

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

The Road to Greatness

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

Despite English victory, the opener had an average below 25 achieving merely one performance over fifty

He sought improvement

"While cricket involves teamwork, individual contribution generates the feeling that you must contribute adequately," he explains

Game Improvement

Just 48 hours following the celebrations, he was back facing countless of balls in the nets alongside Graham Gooch

The initial results were encouraging

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

Crucial Turning Points

After coming back to home soil during the 2010 season, the batsman performed poorly

In eight innings versus Bangladesh and Pakistan, his top innings totaled just 29 runs

On nought not out following day two during the final Test versus Pakistan at the famous ground, the batsman felt certain this would be his last Test innings prior to selection

"I found myself in the hospitality area, trying to find the resolution through drinking," he admits

The Turning Point

The 110-run innings ensured his position on the plane to Australia

Preparation continued by winning two and drawing one during preparatory contests in Australia

As the opening match began in Brisbane, they encountered three wickets from Siddle

Record-Breaking Stand

An hour before the third day's close, both batsmen opened England's second innings with a deficit of 221 runs

They achieved 19 without loss at stumps and followed up with an exhibition etched in Ashes folklore

"I cannot recall specific guidance, anything of what we spoke about," recalls Cook

Both left-handed batsmen accumulated 188 runs in their partnership

His unbeaten 235 stood as the best performance achieved by a Briton in Australia in eight decades

Series Dominance

England exploited an astonishing first morning during the following Test in Adelaide

When Anderson also nicked off the opposition player, the score read 2-3 and never recovered

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

Ultimate Victory

The English might have secured the urn in Perth, however Johnson to foreshadow the havoc from future encounters

Then came perhaps England's single greatest day during Ashes competition on Australian soil

At the MCG, the enormous ground of Australian sport, during Boxing Day, the home side were dismissed for 98

"If perfection existed for Boxing Day, that defined it. Amazement prevailed as the day ended," recalls Cook

Series Conclusion

Driven by determination to win the urn, the batsman performed brilliantly in Sydney

His score of 189 contributed to England's 644, their highest total in a Test in Australia

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

"The environment was electric," Cook remembers

"When Tremlett got Michael Beer to win the match, that was a time of complete happiness"

Legacy and Recognition

He earned series honors

The subsequent seven years in his international career featured additional achievements

After retiring internationally, he received a knighthood for cricket contributions

"{I couldn't have played any better|