Remembering 766 - When Cook Conquered the Australian Team

Ashes cricket

Alastair Cook's impressive 766 by an Englishman in Australian conditions ranks second only to cricket legend Wally Hammond

Lead Cricket Journalist based in Brisbane

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Brisbane is not a place that offers the English team some much-needed confidence in the series

After defeat by Australia at the series start, the tourists must stir themselves for a trip to the famous Gabba, a stadium where England have not won for decades

English cricketers have often become lambs to the slaughter in Brisbane

Cook's Memorable Triumph

Throughout modern times of English disappointments, hopes and athletes exists a motivational tale delivered by a cricket hero

Today commemorates the 15th anniversary of the legendary Cook conquered the Gabba via a landmark unbeaten 235, rescuing the opening match during that famous series establishing England's trajectory to their only Ashes series win on Australian soil in the past 38 years

Historic Achievement

It commenced of Cook's triumphant circumnavigation of Australia; three hundred-plus scores accumulating 766 runs

The legendary Hammond is the only Englishman 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 memorable series

Cook's Memories

"You forget the challenging periods, the apprehension and concern that went into that," Cook recalls

"With pride I remember. I played a significant part in a series when the English secured a 3-1 victory on Australian soil and all three games came through innings wins"

Journey to Excellence

His journey to down under success began 18 months earlier after the 2009 Ashes in the UK

England won, Cook had an average below 25 achieving merely one performance over fifty

He desired better

"Cricket is a team game, the individuality creates the sensation like you want to pull your weight," he notes

Skill Development

Shortly after the triumphant events, he was back at work facing countless of balls in the nets alongside Graham Gooch

Early outcomes were encouraging

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 during the 2010 season, the left-hander performed poorly

During eight batting opportunities versus Bangladesh and Pakistan, his top innings totaled just 29 runs

Without runs after day two during the final Test facing Pakistan at the famous ground, Cook believed it might be his final Test performance prior to selection

"I was sitting in the bar, seeking the solution by drowning sorrows," he admits

Critical Moment

His century ensured his position for the Australian tour

England continued their preparations with two victories and one draw during preparatory contests in Australia

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

Historic Partnership

An hour before the end of the third day, both batsmen opened England's second innings trailing by 221 runs

They achieved 19 without loss by day's end and followed up with an exhibition engraved in cricket memory

"My memory doesn't retain specific guidance, anything of what we spoke about," says Cook

The opening pair contributed 188 in their partnership

His unbeaten 235 stood as the best performance achieved by a Briton on Australian soil in eight decades

Total Command

England exploited an incredible start during the following Test in South Australia

When Anderson also nicked off the Australian batsman, Australia were 2-3 and never recovered

Cook followed up his Queensland achievement through a 148-run innings during a memorable Test for Kevin Pietersen dismantling the Australian attack

Ultimate Victory

Victory was possible the series in Western Australia, only for Mitchell Johnson to foreshadow the havoc from future encounters

The subsequent events included perhaps England's single greatest day during Ashes competition down under

In Melbourne, the enormous ground of Australian cricket, on the holiday, the Australian team collapsed to 98 all out

"If Carlsberg did Boxing Days, that defined it. Incredulity reigned at the end of the day," Cook remembers

The Final Victory

Motivated by purpose to claim victory, Cook excelled once more in Sydney

The 189-run innings contributed to England's 644, their best score during Australian Tests

The question was not if victory would come both match and urn, rather when

"The feeling was unbelievable," Cook remembers

"When Tremlett got the last player to claim triumph, that was a time of pure elation"

Enduring Impact

The batsman received top accolades

The following seven seasons in his international career included additional achievements

Following his international retirement, he received a knighthood for cricket contributions

"{I couldn't have played any better|

Jeremy Ruiz
Jeremy Ruiz

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