The Legend of 766 - When Cook Conquered Australia
Sir Alastair's record-breaking 766 scored by an English batsman on an Ashes tour is only bettered by the great Wally Hammond
The Queensland capital isn't a location providing the English team badly required confidence in the series
Following the loss to Australia during the opening match, England need to regroup ahead of visiting the Gabba, a stadium where victory has eluded England since 1986
Men wearing three lions have habitually been outmatched opponents in Brisbane
The Inspirational Triumph
Among a recent history of dashed English dreams, dreams and bodies exists a motivational tale provided by a cricket hero
Today commemorates the 15th anniversary of Sir Alastair Cook conquered the Gabba through a defining 235 without loss, saving the first Test from the 2010-11 series establishing England's trajectory to their only Ashes series win down under during recent memory
Record-Breaking Performance
It was the beginning of the victorious circumnavigation of Australia; three centuries totaling 766 runs
Wally Hammond remains the sole English player who has made more runs throughout a campaign down under
The English triumphed 3-1, with all victories via comprehensive wins
England hasn't achieved success at this venue since that historic campaign
Cook's Memories
"People overlook the challenging periods, the nervousness and anxiety that went into that," Cook recalls
"I reflect proudly. I made an important impact in a series when England won 3-1 on Australian soil with every match came through innings wins"
Path to Success
Cook's road toward Australian glory began 18 months earlier at the end of that year's Ashes on home soil
Despite English victory, the opener had an average below 25 with just one score exceeding half-century
He wanted more
"While cricket involves teamwork, personal performance does make you feel that personal responsibility matters," he states
Game Improvement
Just 48 hours following the celebrations, he was back at work facing countless bowls during training under Graham Gooch's guidance
The initial results were encouraging
Cook made three hundreds on the 2009-10 winter tours in South Africa and Bangladesh
Pivotal Instances
After coming back to England for the 2010 summer, the left-hander had a "stinker"
Across eight appearances versus Bangladesh and Pakistan, his highest score reached only 29
On nought not out after the second day's play during the final Test against Pakistan in London, the batsman felt certain it might be his final Test performance before being dropped
"There I was in the hospitality area, attempting to discover the resolution through drinking," he reveals
Decisive Instance
The 110-run innings guaranteed his seat for the Australian tour
Preparation continued through successful warm-ups in practice matches down under
When the first Test arrived at the famous ground, they encountered a Siddle hat-trick
Historic Partnership
Shortly prior to the third day's close, both batsmen began England's second batting effort needing to overcome 221 runs
They achieved 19 without loss by day's end and followed up with an exhibition remembered in Ashes history
"My memory doesn't retain any instructions, our discussions," says Cook
The left-handers contributed 188 together
His unbeaten 235 represented the top score from an English player in Australia for 82 years
Total Command
The English took advantage of an astonishing first morning of the second Test in South Australia
Following Anderson's additional wicket the opposition player, Australia were 2-3 and struggled throughout
Cook followed up his Brisbane success by scoring 148 in a famous match featuring Pietersen's destruction of the Australian bowling
Ultimate Victory
Victory was possible the urn in Perth, but Mitchell Johnson to foreshadow the havoc he would cause four years later
Then came perhaps England's single greatest day in Ashes history down under
In Melbourne, the massive stadium of Australian sport, during Boxing Day, the hosts were blown away for 98
"If Carlsberg did Boxing Days, this was it. Amazement prevailed at the end of the day," Cook remembers
The Final Victory
Driven by determination to win the urn, the batsman performed brilliantly at the SCG
The 189-run innings lifted England to 644, their best score on Australian soil
The uncertainty wasn't if victory would come the game and series, but the timing
"The environment was electric," says Cook
"When Tremlett got the final batsman to claim triumph, that was a time of complete happiness"
Enduring Impact
He earned series honors
The remaining seven years of his cricket journey were illuminated by other milestones
Post-cricket career, he received a knighthood for services to cricket
"{I couldn't have played any better|