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The Queensland capital isn't a place that offers the English team some much-needed hope for the Ashes

After defeat by the hosts during the opening match, England must stir themselves before heading to the famous Gabba, a ground where victory has eluded England for over thirty years

English cricketers have often become easy prey at this challenging venue

The Inspirational Success

Throughout modern times of dashed English dreams, aspirations and players lies an inspirational story provided by a cricket hero

This marks 15 years since Alastair Cook mastered the Gabba via a landmark 235 not out, rescuing the opening match of 2010-11 and setting England on course to their only Ashes series win in Australia over nearly four decades

Record-Breaking Performance

This marked the start of his successful circumnavigation of Australia; three centuries totaling 766 runs

Cricket great Hammond is the only Englishman with higher run totals during a Test series on Australian soil

England won 3-1, with every win through innings victories

England hasn't achieved a Test here since those glory days

Cook's Memories

"People overlook the difficult moments, the apprehension and concern involved in that achievement," Cook remembers

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

Path to Success

The path toward Australian glory began 18 months earlier following the 2009 series on home soil

Despite English victory, the opening batsman averaged less than 25 managing only one innings above 50

He sought improvement

"Cricket is a team game, personal performance generates the feeling that personal responsibility matters," he notes

Game Improvement

Just 48 hours following the victory celebrations, he was back facing countless of balls in the nets under Graham Gooch's guidance

Early outcomes were encouraging

He scored three centuries on the 2009-10 winter tours to South Africa and Bangladesh

Career-Defining Moments

After coming back to home soil for that year's summer, Cook had a "stinker"

Across eight appearances facing these opponents, his best performance reached only 29

Scoreless overnight after the second day in the third match versus Pakistan at The Oval, the batsman felt certain this would be his final Test performance ahead of potential omission

"There I was in the hospitality area, trying to find the answer in the bottom of a beer bottle," he confesses

Decisive Instance

Cook's 110 secured his place for the Australian tour

The team maintained preparations with two victories and one draw of their warm-up games down under

As the opening match began in Brisbane, they were hit by Peter Siddle's hat-trick

Historic Partnership

Shortly prior to the third day's close, Cook and Strauss started the English reply with a deficit of 221 runs

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

"I cannot recall any instructions, anything of what we spoke about," recalls Cook

The left-handers contributed 188 together

The 235 without dismissal was the highest score from an English player on Australian soil since the 1930s

Total Command

England capitalised on an astonishing first morning during the following Test at Adelaide

Following Anderson's additional wicket Michael Clarke, the hosts stood at 2-3 and never recovered

The batsman proceeded his Queensland achievement by scoring 148 in a Test remembered highlighting Pietersen's dominance over the opposition bowlers

The Final Triumph

The English might have secured the urn in Perth, only for Mitchell Johnson to preview the destruction from future encounters

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

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

"For ideal Boxing Days, it was that. Amazement prevailed at the end of the day," says Cook

Ultimate Success

Driven by determination to secure the Ashes, the batsman performed brilliantly in Sydney

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

The question was not whether England would triumph both match and urn, but when

"The atmosphere was incredible," says Cook

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

Enduring Impact

The batsman received top accolades

The remaining seven years of his cricket journey were illuminated by further accomplishments

After retiring internationally, Cook was knighted for cricket contributions

"{I couldn't have played any better|