766 and All That - Cook's Triumph in Down Under
The legendary impressive 766 scored by an English batsman in Australian conditions is only bettered by the great Wally Hammond
Brisbane is not a location providing England badly required Ashes optimism
After defeat by the Australian side during the opening match, England need to regroup ahead of visiting the famous Gabba, a stadium where victory has eluded England for decades
Men wearing three lions have habitually been easy prey in Brisbane
Cook's Memorable Success
Throughout modern times of dashed English dreams, hopes and athletes is a source of inspiration provided by a cricket hero
It is exactly 15 years since Sir Alastair Cook dominated in Brisbane through a defining 235 without loss, saving the first Test during that famous series establishing England's trajectory to their only Ashes series win down under in the past 38 years
Record-Breaking Performance
It was the beginning of the victorious circumnavigation of Australia; three hundred-plus scores accumulating 766 runs
Cricket great Hammond remains the sole English player who has made more runs during a Test series on Australian soil
England won 3-1, with every win by an innings
England hasn't achieved a Test here since those glory days
Cook's Memories
"One tends to forget the difficult moments, the tension and worry involved in that achievement," Cook recalls
"I reflect proudly. I played a significant part during a campaign where the English secured a 3-1 victory down under and all three games was achieved comprehensively"
The Road to Greatness
His journey to down under success began 18 months earlier at the end of the 2009 Ashes on home soil
Though England triumphed, the opener scored under 25 per innings managing only one innings exceeding half-century
He desired better
"Cricket is a team game, the individuality creates the sensation that you must contribute adequately," he states
Game Improvement
Two days after the victory celebrations, he returned practicing numerous deliveries in practice under Graham Gooch's guidance
The initial results showed promise
Cook made three centuries on the 2009-10 winter tours to South Africa and Bangladesh
Pivotal Instances
After coming back to England during the 2010 season, Cook struggled significantly
In eight innings facing these opponents, his highest score reached only 29
Without runs following day two in the third match against Pakistan at the famous ground, the batsman felt certain this would be his last Test innings before being dropped
"There I was at the bar, seeking the solution through drinking," he reveals
Critical Moment
Cook's 110 guaranteed his seat in the squad down under
England continued their preparations through successful warm-ups of their warm-up games down under
As the opening match began in Brisbane, they encountered three wickets from Siddle
Memorable Collaboration
An hour before the end of the third day, both batsmen opened England's second innings trailing by 221 runs
They reached 19-0 when play concluded then continued through a demonstration remembered in Ashes history
"I cannot recall any instructions, our discussions," Cook remembers
Both left-handed batsmen accumulated 188 runs together
The 235 without dismissal represented the top score achieved by a Briton on Australian soil in eight decades
Complete Control
England capitalised on an astonishing first morning of the second Test in Adelaide
Following Anderson's additional wicket the opposition player, the hosts stood at 2-3 and struggled throughout
The batsman proceeded his Brisbane success through a 148-run innings in a famous match for Kevin Pietersen dismantling the opposition bowlers
Ultimate Victory
Victory was possible the urn in Perth, however Johnson to preview the destruction that would come later
The subsequent events included possibly England's finest day of Ashes cricket in Australia
At the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the massive stadium of Australian cricket, and on Boxing Day, the hosts were dismissed for 98
"If Carlsberg did Boxing Days, it was that. Amazement prevailed as the day ended," Cook remembers
Series Conclusion
Driven by determination to claim victory, the batsman performed brilliantly at the Sydney Cricket Ground
His 189 helped England reach 644, their best score on Australian soil
The debate didn't concern whether England would triumph the match and the Ashes, rather when
"The atmosphere was incredible," says Cook
"Following Tremlett's wicket of the final batsman to claim triumph, it represented an instant of absolute joy"
Historical Significance
The batsman received top accolades
The remaining seven years of his cricket journey were illuminated by further accomplishments
Post-cricket career, Cook was knighted for services to cricket
"{I couldn't have played any better|