Remembering 766 - Cook's Dominance of Down Under
The legendary 766 runs scored by an English batsman in Australian conditions is only bettered by cricket legend Wally Hammond
Brisbane is not a location providing the English team crucial confidence in the series
Following the loss to the hosts in the first Test, the visiting team need to regroup for a trip to Brisbane's Gabba, a stadium where victory has eluded England for over thirty years
Men wearing three lions have often become easy prey at the Gabbatoir
The Inspirational Success
Throughout modern times of broken English hopes, aspirations and players is a source of inspiration achieved by a cricket hero
This marks the 15th anniversary of the legendary Cook mastered the Gabba through a defining 235 without loss, rescuing the opening match of 2010-11 and setting England on course for their unique Ashes triumph on Australian soil over nearly four decades
Record-Breaking Performance
It commenced of his successful tour of Australia; three hundreds accumulating 766 runs
Wally Hammond remains the sole English player who has made more runs throughout a campaign on Australian soil
England won 3-1, where each success by an innings
They have not won success at this venue since those glory days
Personal Reflections
"One tends to forget the challenging periods, the nervousness and anxiety accompanying that success," the cricketer reflects
"I look back with pride. My contribution was substantial in a tournament that saw the English secured a 3-1 victory down under where each victory was achieved comprehensively"
Journey to Excellence
The path to his Australian epic began 18 months earlier after the 2009 series in the UK
England won, Cook scored under 25 per innings with just one score over fifty
He desired better
"Despite cricket's collective nature, personal performance creates the sensation like you want to pull your weight," he notes
Game Improvement
Shortly after the celebrations, he was back facing countless deliveries in practice under Graham Gooch's guidance
Early outcomes were encouraging
He scored three hundred-run innings on the 2009-10 winter tours to South Africa and Bangladesh
Pivotal Instances
When Cook returned to British conditions for that year's summer, Cook had a "stinker"
In eight innings versus Bangladesh and Pakistan, his best performance reached only 29
Without runs after the second day during the final Test against Pakistan in London, the batsman felt certain he was playing his last Test innings before being dropped
"There I was in the bar, attempting to discover the answer by drowning sorrows," he admits
Decisive Instance
Cook's 110 secured his place for the Australian tour
The team maintained preparations with two victories and one draw in practice matches in Australia
As the opening match began at the famous ground, they encountered a Siddle hat-trick
Historic Partnership
Just before the end of the third day, Cook and Strauss began England's second batting effort trailing by 221 runs
They achieved 19 without loss when play concluded and followed up through a demonstration engraved in cricket memory
"I cannot recall specific guidance, our discussions," recalls Cook
The opening pair added 188 together
His unbeaten 235 stood as the best performance achieved by a Briton on Australian soil for 82 years
Complete Control
England exploited an astonishing first morning of the second Test in Adelaide
After Anderson also dismissed the Australian batsman, Australia were 2-3 and never recovered
He continued his Queensland achievement through a 148-run innings in a Test remembered for Kevin Pietersen dismantling the opposition bowlers
Ultimate Victory
England could have retained the series in Western Australia, but Mitchell Johnson to foreshadow the havoc from future encounters
The subsequent events included arguably England's best performance during Ashes competition down under
At the MCG, the enormous ground of Australian cricket, during Boxing Day, the hosts were dismissed for 98
"If Carlsberg did Boxing Days, it was that. Amazement prevailed at the end of the day," recalls Cook
Ultimate Success
Driven by determination to claim victory, the batsman performed brilliantly at the Sydney Cricket Ground
His 189 lifted England to 644, their highest total in a Test in Australia
The question was not if victory would come the match and the Ashes, but when
"The feeling was unbelievable," recalls Cook
"After Tremlett dismissed Michael Beer to claim triumph, that was a time of absolute joy"
Legacy and Recognition
He earned series honors
The subsequent seven years in his international career included further accomplishments
Post-cricket career, he was honored for sporting achievements
"{I couldn't have played any better|