Remembering 766 - When Cook Conquered the Australian Team
Alastair Cook's impressive 766 by an Englishman in Australian conditions ranks second only to cricket legend Wally Hammond
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|