766 and All That - Cook's Dominance of Down Under
The legendary record-breaking 766 scored by an English batsman in Australian conditions is only bettered by Wally Hammond
The Queensland capital isn't a place that offers the English team some much-needed hope for the Ashes
In the wake of losing to the Australian side at the series start, the tourists must stir themselves ahead of visiting the famous Gabba, a ground where England have not won for over thirty years
Players representing England have habitually been lambs to the slaughter at the Gabbatoir
A Shining Knight's Triumph
Throughout modern times of English disappointments, aspirations and players lies an inspirational story achieved by a shining knight
It is exactly a decade and a half after Sir Alastair Cook dominated in Brisbane through a defining 235 without loss, saving the first Test of 2010-11 establishing England's trajectory for their unique Ashes triumph on Australian soil during recent memory
Historic Achievement
It commenced of Cook's triumphant Australian campaign; three centuries and 766 runs
Wally Hammond remains the sole English player with higher run totals in a series on Australian soil
The English triumphed 3-1, with every win by an innings
They have not won success at this venue since that memorable series
Looking Back
"You forget the tough times, the tension and worry involved in that achievement," the cricketer reflects
"I look back with pride. My contribution was substantial in a tournament that saw England triumphed 3-1 in Australia and all three games were won by an innings"
The Road to Greatness
Cook's road toward Australian glory commenced well before after the 2009 series in the UK
England won, Cook had an average below 25 with just one score over fifty
He sought improvement
"Despite cricket's collective nature, the individuality creates the sensation like you want to pull your weight," he explains
Game Improvement
Just 48 hours following the victory celebrations, he was back at work hitting hundreds and hundreds of balls in the nets with Graham Gooch
Beginning performances showed promise
Cook made three hundred-run innings on overseas campaigns in South Africa and Bangladesh
Crucial Turning Points
After coming back to England for that year's summer, Cook struggled significantly
Across eight appearances against Bangladesh and Pakistan, his best performance totaled just 29 runs
On nought not out at the end of day two of the third Test versus Pakistan at the famous ground, Cook was convinced this would be his concluding international appearance before being dropped
"There I was in the hospitality area, trying to find the answer through drinking," he confesses
The Turning Point
The 110-run innings ensured his position on the plane to Australia
The team maintained preparations by winning two and drawing one during preparatory contests on Australian soil
Come the first Test at the famous ground, they faced three wickets from Siddle
Historic Partnership
Just before the third day's close, both batsmen started the English reply trailing by 221 runs
They achieved 19 without loss by day's end and followed up with an exhibition remembered in Ashes history
"I don't remember any instructions, our conversations," recalls Cook
The left-handers accumulated 188 runs in their partnership
The 235 without dismissal represented the top score from an English player on Australian soil for 82 years
Total Command
England capitalised on an incredible start during the following Test at Adelaide
When Anderson also nicked off the Australian batsman, the hosts stood at 2-3 and couldn't recover
The batsman proceeded his Queensland achievement through a 148-run innings in a famous match for Kevin Pietersen dismantling the Australian attack
Series Conclusion
England could have retained the series in Western Australia, but Mitchell Johnson to foreshadow the havoc he would cause four years later
The subsequent events included arguably England's best performance in Ashes history down under
At the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the massive stadium of Australian sport, during Boxing Day, the Australian team collapsed to 98 all out
"If perfection existed for Boxing Day, it was that. Incredulity reigned at the end of the day," says Cook
Series Conclusion
Fuelled by the focus to secure the Ashes, the batsman performed brilliantly at the SCG
His score of 189 helped England reach 644, their best score during Australian Tests
The question was not if victory would come the match and the Ashes, but the timing
"The feeling was unbelievable," recalls Cook
"Following Tremlett's wicket of the final batsman to secure victory, it was a moment of complete happiness"
Enduring Impact
He earned series honors
The remaining seven years of his cricket journey were illuminated by additional achievements
Post-cricket career, he was honored for cricket contributions
"{I couldn't have played any better|