The Legend of 766 - When Cook Conquered the Australian Team
The legendary impressive 766 from an English player in Australian conditions is only bettered by cricket legend Wally Hammond
Brisbane hasn't been a place that offers the Three Lions crucial confidence in the series
After defeat by Australia during the opening match, England must stir themselves ahead of visiting Brisbane's Gabba, a stadium where England have not won since 1986
Men wearing three lions have often become easy prey in Brisbane
Cook's Memorable Success
Among a recent history of dashed English dreams, aspirations and players lies an inspirational story provided by a cricket hero
It is exactly a decade and a half after the legendary Cook dominated in Brisbane via a landmark unbeaten 235, preserving the initial Test from the 2010-11 series paving England's path toward their sole series victory in Australia during recent memory
Historic Achievement
It commenced of his successful Australian campaign; three hundreds and 766 runs
The legendary Hammond is the only Englishman with higher run totals in a series on Australian soil
England won 3-1, where each success via comprehensive wins
The team hasn't secured a Test here since that historic campaign
Cook's Memories
"One tends to forget the tough times, the nervousness and anxiety that went into that," Cook recalls
"I reflect proudly. My contribution was substantial during a campaign where England won 3-1 in Australia with every match were won by an innings"
Path to Success
The path toward Australian glory started a year and a half before following the 2009 Ashes in England
Despite English victory, the opener averaged less than 25 achieving merely one performance above 50
He sought improvement
"While cricket involves teamwork, the individuality does make you feel that personal responsibility matters," he states
Game Improvement
Shortly after the celebrations, he returned hitting hundreds and hundreds of balls in the nets alongside Graham Gooch
Beginning performances were encouraging
Cook made three hundreds on overseas campaigns to South Africa and Bangladesh
Career-Defining Moments
After coming back to British conditions for the 2010 summer, Cook struggled significantly
In eight innings facing these opponents, his best performance was 29
Scoreless overnight after the second day during the final Test versus Pakistan at The Oval, Cook was convinced he was playing his final Test performance before being dropped
"I found myself in the hospitality area, trying to find the resolution in the bottom of a beer bottle," he confesses
Decisive Instance
The 110-run innings guaranteed his seat on the plane to Australia
The team maintained preparations through successful warm-ups of their warm-up games in Australia
Come the first Test at the Gabba, they were hit by Peter Siddle's hat-trick
Historic Partnership
Shortly prior to day three's conclusion, Cook and Strauss opened England's second innings needing to overcome 221 runs
They reached 19-0 at stumps then continued with a performance etched in Ashes folklore
"My memory doesn't retain specific guidance, anything of what we spoke about," Cook remembers
The opening pair added 188 together
Cook's 235 not out represented the top score by an Englishman in Australia for 82 years
Complete Control
England capitalised on a remarkable opening session during the following Test in South Australia
Following Anderson's additional wicket the opposition player, the hosts stood at 2-3 and couldn't recover
He continued his Brisbane success by scoring 148 in a famous match featuring Pietersen's destruction of the Australian bowling
Series Conclusion
Victory was possible the series in Western Australia, however Johnson to foreshadow the havoc that would come later
The subsequent events included possibly England's finest day in Ashes history on Australian soil
In Melbourne, the enormous ground of Australian cricket, during Boxing Day, the Australian team collapsed to 98 all out
"For ideal Boxing Days, it was that. Amazement prevailed at the end of the day," says Cook
Series Conclusion
Driven by determination to win the urn, the batsman performed brilliantly in Sydney
The 189-run innings lifted England to 644, their best score on Australian soil
The uncertainty wasn't if victory would come the match and the Ashes, rather when
"The feeling was unbelievable," says Cook
"Following Tremlett's wicket of the final batsman to secure victory, it represented an instant of absolute joy"
Legacy and Recognition
He earned series honors
The subsequent seven years of his Test career featured additional achievements
Post-cricket career, Cook was knighted for sporting achievements
"{I couldn't have played any better|