🔗 Share this article 766 and All That - When Cook Conquered Australia Alastair Cook's 766 runs from an English player on an Ashes tour is only bettered by cricket legend Wally Hammond Chief Cricket Reporter reporting from Brisbane Posted just now Brisbane is not a place that offers the Three Lions badly required confidence in the series In the wake of losing to the hosts in the first Test, the visiting team have to bounce back for a trip to Brisbane's Gabba, a ground where England have not won for decades Men wearing three lions have frequently been easy prey at this challenging venue A Shining Knight's Success Among a recent history of English disappointments, aspirations and players exists a motivational tale achieved by a cricket hero It is exactly 15 years since Sir Alastair Cook dominated in Brisbane with a career-defining unbeaten 235, saving the first Test from the 2010-11 series paving England's path for their unique Ashes triumph down under during recent memory Unforgettable Series It was the beginning of his successful tour of Australia; three hundreds and 766 runs Wally Hammond remains the sole English player who has made more runs throughout a campaign in this country England won 3-1, where each success via comprehensive wins England hasn't achieved a Test victory there since that memorable series Personal Reflections "One tends to forget the challenging periods, the apprehension and concern involved in that achievement," Cook remembers "I look back with pride. I made an important impact during a campaign where England triumphed 3-1 down under and all three games came through innings wins" Journey to Excellence Cook's road toward Australian glory commenced well before at the end of the 2009 series in the UK Though England triumphed, Cook scored under 25 per innings managing only one innings exceeding half-century He desired better "Cricket is a team game, individual contribution creates the sensation that you must contribute adequately," he notes Game Improvement Shortly after the victory celebrations, he was back facing countless bowls during training with Graham Gooch Early outcomes proved positive Cook made three centuries during winter tours in South Africa and Bangladesh Crucial Turning Points Upon his return to home soil for the 2010 summer, Cook struggled significantly During eight batting opportunities against Bangladesh and Pakistan, his top innings was 29 On nought not out at the end of the second day's play of the third Test against Pakistan in London, Cook believed this would be his final Test performance ahead of potential omission "I found myself in the bar, trying to find the solution in the bottom of a beer bottle," he confesses The Turning Point His century guaranteed his seat on the plane to Australia The team maintained preparations through successful warm-ups of their warm-up games down under As the opening match began at the Gabba, they faced Peter Siddle's hat-trick Record-Breaking Stand Just before the third day's close, the opening pair began England's second batting effort with a deficit of 221 runs They achieved 19 without loss by day's end and proceeded with a performance remembered in Ashes history "My memory doesn't retain specific guidance, anything of what we spoke about," recalls Cook Both left-handed batsmen added 188 in their partnership His unbeaten 235 represented the top score by an Englishman in Australia for 82 years Complete Control The English took advantage of a remarkable opening session of the second Test in Adelaide After Anderson also dismissed Michael Clarke, the hosts stood at 2-3 and never recovered Cook followed up his Queensland achievement with 148 during a memorable Test highlighting Pietersen's dominance over the Australian bowling Ultimate Victory England could have retained the urn in Perth, only for Mitchell Johnson to foreshadow the havoc that would come later Then came possibly England's finest day during Ashes competition down under In Melbourne, the enormous ground of Australian sport, and on Boxing Day, the Australian team collapsed to 98 all out "If perfection existed for Boxing Day, this was it. There was disbelief at the end of the day," says Cook Ultimate Success Motivated by purpose to claim victory, Cook excelled once more at the Sydney Cricket Ground The 189-run innings lifted England to 644, their highest total on Australian soil The uncertainty wasn't if England would win the game and series, but the timing "The feeling was unbelievable," recalls Cook "When Tremlett got the final batsman to secure victory, it was a moment of complete happiness" Enduring Impact The batsman received top accolades The remaining seven years in his international career included further accomplishments Post-cricket career, Cook was knighted for cricket contributions "{I couldn't have played any better|