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The Queensland capital isn't a city to give the English team some much-needed hope for the Ashes

After defeat by the Australian side in the first Test, the tourists must stir themselves ahead of visiting the Gabba, a venue where victory has eluded England since 1986

Men wearing three lions have habitually been easy prey at the Gabbatoir

The Inspirational Success

Within recent memory of broken English hopes, hopes and athletes exists a motivational tale delivered by a cricket hero

Today commemorates a decade and a half after Alastair Cook mastered the Gabba via a landmark unbeaten 235, rescuing the opening match during that famous series paving England's path to their only Ashes series win in Australia over nearly four decades

Record-Breaking Performance

It was the beginning of the victorious circumnavigation of Australia; three hundreds and 766 runs

Cricket great Hammond remains the sole English player to score more runs during a Test series on Australian soil

Victory came 3-1, where each success by an innings

They have not won a Test here since that historic campaign

Looking Back

"You forget the difficult moments, the nervousness and anxiety involved in that achievement," Cook remembers

"With pride I remember. I made an important impact in a tournament that saw England won 3-1 down under where each victory came through innings wins"

Journey to Excellence

Cook's road to his Australian epic commenced well before following the 2009 series on home soil

Though England triumphed, Cook scored under 25 per innings achieving merely one performance above 50

He wanted more

"While cricket involves teamwork, the individuality creates the sensation like you want to pull your weight," he explains

Skill Development

Just 48 hours following the celebrations, he was back at work practicing numerous bowls during training with Graham Gooch

Beginning performances showed promise

The batsman achieved three hundred-run innings on the 2009-10 winter tours to South Africa and Bangladesh

Pivotal Instances

When Cook returned to British conditions for the 2010 summer, the left-hander struggled significantly

Across eight appearances facing these opponents, his highest score reached only 29

Without runs at the end of day two of the third Test facing Pakistan at the famous ground, the batsman felt certain he was playing his last Test innings ahead of potential omission

"There I was at the bar, trying to find the answer through drinking," he admits

The Turning Point

Cook's 110 guaranteed his seat in the squad down under

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

When the first Test arrived at the famous ground, they faced a Siddle hat-trick

Historic Partnership

An hour before day three's conclusion, Cook and Strauss opened England's second innings with a deficit of 221 runs

The score stood at 19-0 at stumps and proceeded with an exhibition etched in Ashes folklore

"I don't remember the messages, our discussions," says Cook

The left-handers added 188 for the first wicket

The 235 without dismissal was the highest score by an Englishman in Australia since the 1930s

Total Command

The English took advantage of an incredible start of the second Test in South Australia

Following Anderson's additional wicket Michael Clarke, the score read 2-3 and never recovered

He continued his Brisbane heroics through a 148-run innings in a famous match highlighting Pietersen's dominance over the opposition bowlers

Series Conclusion

Victory was possible the Ashes in Perth, only for Mitchell Johnson to preview the destruction from future encounters

Then came arguably England's best performance of Ashes cricket in Australia

At the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the 100,000-seater cathedral of Australian cricket, 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," Cook remembers

Ultimate Success

Fuelled by the focus to claim victory, the batsman performed brilliantly at the SCG

His score of 189 lifted England to 644, their best score in a Test in Australia

The debate didn't concern if England would win both match and urn, rather when

"The environment was electric," Cook remembers

"Following Tremlett's wicket of Michael Beer to win the match, it was a moment of pure elation"

Enduring Impact

He earned series honors

The following seven seasons in his international career were illuminated by other milestones

Post-cricket career, Cook was knighted for sporting achievements

"{I couldn't have played any better|