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The Queensland capital isn't a city to give the Three Lions crucial hope for the Ashes

After defeat by Australia in the first Test, England have to bounce back for a trip to the famous Gabba, a ground where victory has eluded England since 1986

Players representing England have frequently been easy prey in Brisbane

Cook's Memorable Success

Among a recent history of dashed English dreams, hopes and athletes exists a motivational tale delivered by an exceptional player

Today commemorates a decade and a half after Sir Alastair Cook conquered the Gabba via a landmark unbeaten 235, rescuing the opening match of 2010-11 and setting England on course toward their sole series victory down under in the past 38 years

Record-Breaking Performance

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

The legendary Hammond remains the sole English player to score more runs during a Test series in this country

Victory came 3-1, with every win by an innings

They have not won success at this venue since those glory days

Looking Back

"People overlook the difficult moments, the nervousness and anxiety involved in that achievement," Cook remembers

"With pride I remember. I made an important impact during a campaign where England triumphed 3-1 on Australian soil where each victory was achieved comprehensively"

Journey to Excellence

Cook's road to his Australian epic started a year and a half before at the end of that year's Ashes on home soil

Though England triumphed, Cook scored under 25 per innings achieving merely one performance exceeding half-century

He desired better

"While cricket involves teamwork, the individuality creates the sensation that you must contribute adequately," he explains

Game Improvement

Shortly after the triumphant events, he was back practicing numerous of balls in the nets alongside Graham Gooch

Beginning performances showed promise

He scored three hundred-run innings on overseas campaigns against South African and Bangladeshi teams

Pivotal Instances

After coming back to England for that year's summer, Cook struggled significantly

Across eight appearances against Bangladesh and Pakistan, his top innings totaled just 29 runs

On nought not out at the end of day two during the final Test against Pakistan at the famous ground, the batsman felt certain he was playing his concluding international appearance before being dropped

"I found myself at the bar, attempting to discover the resolution in the bottom of a beer bottle," he reveals

The Turning Point

The 110-run innings guaranteed his seat in the squad down under

England continued their preparations by winning two and drawing one in practice matches in Australia

Come the first Test at the Gabba, they were hit by Peter Siddle's hat-trick

Record-Breaking Stand

Just before the third day's close, the opening pair started the English reply needing to overcome 221 runs

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

"My memory doesn't retain the messages, our conversations," says Cook

The left-handers contributed 188 for the first wicket

Cook's 235 not out represented the top score achieved by a Briton down under in eight decades

Series Dominance

England capitalised on an incredible start of the second Test in Adelaide

Following Anderson's additional wicket the opposition player, the score read 2-3 and struggled throughout

The batsman proceeded his Brisbane heroics by scoring 148 in a Test remembered highlighting Pietersen's dominance over the Australian bowling

The Final Triumph

Victory was possible the Ashes in Perth, however Johnson to indicate the trouble from future encounters

What followed was perhaps England's single greatest day during Ashes competition down under

At the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the enormous ground of sports down under, and on Boxing Day, the hosts were dismissed for 98

"If perfection existed for Boxing Day, it was that. Incredulity reigned as the day ended," says Cook

The Final Victory

Fuelled by the focus to win the urn, Cook excelled once more at the SCG

His score of 189 lifted England to 644, their highest total on Australian soil

The debate didn't concern if England would win both match and urn, but the timing

"The atmosphere was incredible," recalls Cook

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

Enduring Impact

He earned series honors

The remaining seven years of his cricket journey included further accomplishments

Following his international retirement, Cook was knighted for sporting achievements

"{I couldn't have played any better|