766 and All That - Cook's Triumph in Australia
Alastair Cook's 766 runs scored by an English batsman in Australian conditions is only bettered by the great Wally Hammond
Brisbane hasn't been a city to give England crucial confidence in the series
In the wake of losing to Australia at the series start, England need to regroup ahead of visiting the famous Gabba, a venue where victory has eluded England for decades
English cricketers have frequently been easy prey in Brisbane
A Shining Knight's Success
Throughout modern times of dashed English dreams, hopes and athletes exists a motivational tale delivered by a cricket hero
This marks 15 years since Sir Alastair Cook conquered the Gabba with a career-defining unbeaten 235, saving the first Test of 2010-11 establishing England's trajectory toward their sole series victory on Australian soil in the past 38 years
Historic Achievement
This marked the start of Cook's triumphant Australian campaign; three centuries accumulating 766 runs
The legendary Hammond is the only Englishman with higher run totals during a Test series on Australian soil
Victory came 3-1, with every win through innings victories
England hasn't achieved a Test here since that historic campaign
Looking Back
"One tends to forget the challenging periods, the nervousness and anxiety that went into that," Cook recalls
"I look back with pride. I played a significant part in a series when England triumphed 3-1 in Australia where each victory was achieved comprehensively"
Path to Success
Cook's road to down under success commenced well before after the 2009 Ashes on home soil
Despite English victory, Cook averaged less than 25 achieving merely one performance above 50
He wanted more
"While cricket involves teamwork, individual contribution does make you feel that personal responsibility matters," he states
Technical Transformation
Just 48 hours following the victory celebrations, he returned hitting hundreds and hundreds of balls in the nets alongside Graham Gooch
The initial results were encouraging
He scored three centuries on the 2009-10 winter tours to South Africa and Bangladesh
Pivotal Instances
Upon his return to British conditions for the 2010 summer, the left-hander struggled significantly
In eight innings versus Bangladesh and Pakistan, his highest score totaled just 29 runs
Scoreless overnight at the end of the second day's play of the third Test against Pakistan at the famous ground, the batsman felt certain this would be his concluding international appearance before being dropped
"I was sitting in the hospitality area, seeking the resolution in the bottom of a beer bottle," he reveals
Decisive Instance
Cook's 110 guaranteed his seat on the plane to Australia
England continued their preparations with two victories and one draw of their warm-up games down under
When the first Test arrived at the famous ground, they encountered a Siddle hat-trick
Historic Partnership
An hour before the end of the third day, Cook and Strauss opened England's second innings with a deficit of 221 runs
The score stood at 19-0 when play concluded and proceeded with a performance etched in Ashes folklore
"I don't remember specific guidance, our discussions," says Cook
The opening pair accumulated 188 runs together
His unbeaten 235 was the highest score achieved by a Briton in Australia since the 1930s
Total Command
The English took advantage of an incredible start during the following Test at Adelaide
After Anderson also dismissed the opposition player, Australia were 2-3 and struggled throughout
Cook followed up his Brisbane heroics through a 148-run innings in a Test remembered highlighting Pietersen's dominance over the Australian bowling
Series Conclusion
The English might have secured the Ashes in Perth, but Mitchell Johnson to indicate the trouble from future encounters
What followed was possibly England's finest day during Ashes competition on Australian soil
In Melbourne, the enormous ground of Australian cricket, during Boxing Day, the Australian team were blown away for 98
"If perfection existed for Boxing Day, this was it. Incredulity reigned when play concluded," Cook remembers
The Final Victory
Fuelled by the focus to secure the Ashes, Cook was at it again in Sydney
His score of 189 helped England reach 644, their record innings in a Test in Australia
The question was not if England would win both match and urn, but when
"The environment was electric," Cook remembers
"Following Tremlett's wicket of Michael Beer to claim triumph, it was a moment of absolute joy"
Legacy and Recognition
The batsman received top accolades
The remaining seven years of his Test career included additional achievements
Post-cricket career, he received a knighthood for sporting achievements
"{I couldn't have played any better|