766 and All That - Cook's Dominance of the Australian Team
Alastair Cook's record-breaking 766 from an English player during an Ashes series ranks second only to the great Wally Hammond
The Queensland capital isn't a location providing England badly required confidence in the series
In the wake of losing to the hosts in the first Test, England have to bounce back before heading to the Gabba, a ground where the English haven't triumphed since 1986
Players representing England have habitually been easy prey in Brisbane
A Shining Knight's Triumph
Within recent memory of broken English hopes, hopes and athletes exists a motivational tale delivered by a shining knight
Today commemorates a decade and a half after Sir Alastair Cook mastered the Gabba via a landmark unbeaten 235, saving the first Test of 2010-11 paving England's path for their unique Ashes triumph down under during recent memory
Historic Achievement
It commenced of Cook's triumphant tour of Australia; three hundred-plus scores totaling 766 runs
Cricket great Hammond stands as the only Briton to score more runs throughout a campaign on Australian soil
Victory came 3-1, with every win via comprehensive wins
The team hasn't secured a Test victory there since that memorable series
Cook's Memories
"People overlook the challenging periods, the nervousness and anxiety that went into that," the cricketer reflects
"I look back with pride. I played a significant part in a series when the English secured a 3-1 victory in Australia where each victory was achieved comprehensively"
Path to Success
Cook's road toward Australian glory began 18 months earlier after the 2009 Ashes in England
Despite English victory, the opener averaged less than 25 with just one score over fifty
He wanted more
"Despite cricket's collective nature, the individuality generates the feeling that personal responsibility matters," he notes
Game Improvement
Just 48 hours following the triumphant events, he was back facing countless of balls in the nets under Graham Gooch's guidance
The initial results proved positive
He scored three hundred-run innings on the 2009-10 winter tours against South African and Bangladeshi teams
Career-Defining Moments
When Cook returned to home soil for that year's summer, the batsman performed poorly
In eight innings versus Bangladesh and Pakistan, his top innings totaled just 29 runs
On nought not out after day two of the third Test versus Pakistan at The Oval, the batsman felt certain he was playing his final Test performance before being dropped
"There I was at the bar, seeking the solution by drowning sorrows," he reveals
Decisive Instance
The 110-run innings ensured his position in the squad down under
Preparation continued through successful warm-ups during preparatory contests on Australian soil
When the first Test arrived at the famous ground, they were hit by a Siddle hat-trick
Memorable Collaboration
Shortly prior to day three's conclusion, Cook and Strauss began England's second batting effort trailing by 221 runs
They achieved 19 without loss when play concluded and proceeded with an exhibition etched in Ashes folklore
"My memory doesn't retain the messages, our discussions," Cook remembers
The opening pair contributed 188 together
The 235 without dismissal stood as the best performance achieved by a Briton in Australia since the 1930s
Series Dominance
The English took advantage of a remarkable opening session during the following Test at Adelaide
When Anderson also nicked off the Australian batsman, the score read 2-3 and couldn't recover
Cook followed up his Brisbane heroics by scoring 148 in a Test remembered for Kevin Pietersen dismantling the Australian bowling
The Final Triumph
The English might have secured the urn in Perth, but Mitchell Johnson to foreshadow the havoc from future encounters
Then came possibly England's finest day of Ashes cricket in Australia
At the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the enormous ground of Australian sport, on the holiday, the home side were dismissed for 98
"If perfection existed for Boxing Day, that defined it. There was disbelief at the end of the day," recalls Cook
The Final Victory
Fuelled by the focus to secure the Ashes, Cook was at it again in Sydney
His score of 189 helped England reach 644, their best score in a Test in Australia
The debate didn't concern if England would win both match and urn, but the timing
"The environment was electric," Cook remembers
"After Tremlett dismissed the final batsman to win the match, it represented an instant of complete happiness"
Historical Significance
He earned series honors
The remaining seven years of his Test career included other milestones
Following his international retirement, he received a knighthood for cricket contributions
"{I couldn't have played any better|