Remembering 766 - Cook's Triumph in Down Under
Alastair Cook's 766 runs scored by an English batsman on an Ashes tour ranks second only to cricket legend Wally Hammond
Brisbane hasn't been a city to give the English team some much-needed confidence in the series
In the wake of losing to the Australian side during the opening match, England must stir themselves for a trip to the famous Gabba, a venue where England have not won for over thirty years
Men wearing three lions have frequently been lambs to the slaughter at the Gabbatoir
The Inspirational Success
Throughout modern times of dashed English dreams, aspirations and players exists a motivational tale delivered by a cricket hero
It is exactly a decade and a half after the legendary Cook mastered the Gabba through a defining 235 not out, preserving the initial Test of 2010-11 paving England's path to their only Ashes series win down under over nearly four decades
Unforgettable Series
This marked the start of his successful tour of Australia; three hundreds totaling 766 runs
The legendary Hammond stands as the only Briton to score more runs in a series on Australian soil
Victory came 3-1, where each success through innings victories
England hasn't achieved a Test here since those glory days
Personal Reflections
"One tends to forget the difficult moments, the nervousness and anxiety that went into that," the cricketer reflects
"With pride I remember. I played a significant part in a series when England won 3-1 down under and all three games came through innings wins"
The Road to Greatness
The path toward Australian glory began 18 months earlier after the 2009 series in the UK
England won, Cook scored under 25 per innings achieving merely one performance above 50
He sought improvement
"Cricket is a team game, personal performance generates the feeling that you must contribute adequately," he explains
Technical Transformation
Just 48 hours following the triumphant events, he was back practicing numerous deliveries in practice under Graham Gooch's guidance
The initial results showed promise
The batsman achieved three hundred-run innings on overseas campaigns to South Africa and Bangladesh
Crucial Turning Points
When Cook returned 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 after the second day of the third Test versus Pakistan at the famous ground, the batsman felt certain he was playing his concluding international appearance before being dropped
"There I was in the bar, attempting to discover the solution through drinking," he reveals
Decisive Instance
Cook's 110 guaranteed his seat on the plane to Australia
England continued their preparations with two victories and one draw during preparatory contests down under
Come the first Test at the famous ground, they faced Peter Siddle's hat-trick
Historic Partnership
Shortly prior to the end of the third day, Cook and Strauss started the English reply with a deficit of 221 runs
They reached 19-0 by day's end then continued with an exhibition remembered in Ashes history
"I cannot recall any instructions, our conversations," says Cook
Both left-handed batsmen added 188 for the first wicket
Cook's 235 not out stood as the best performance by an Englishman down under in eight decades
Total Command
England exploited an astonishing first morning in the second match in South Australia
After Anderson also dismissed Michael Clarke, Australia were 2-3 and couldn't recover
The batsman proceeded his Brisbane success through a 148-run innings during a memorable Test for Kevin Pietersen dismantling the Australian attack
The Final Triumph
England could have retained the Ashes in Perth, but Mitchell Johnson to foreshadow the havoc that would come later
What followed was arguably England's best performance during Ashes competition in Australia
At the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the enormous ground of Australian cricket, on the holiday, the Australian team were dismissed for 98
"For ideal Boxing Days, that defined it. Amazement prevailed as the day ended," recalls Cook
Ultimate Success
Motivated by purpose to win the urn, the batsman performed brilliantly in Sydney
His score of 189 helped England reach 644, their highest total during Australian Tests
The debate didn't concern if victory would come both match and urn, but the timing
"The atmosphere was incredible," recalls Cook
"When Tremlett got Michael Beer to secure victory, it was a moment of pure elation"
Enduring Impact
Cook was player of the series
The subsequent seven years of his cricket journey were illuminated by additional achievements
Post-cricket career, Cook was knighted for cricket contributions
"{I couldn't have played any better|