Remembering 766 - Cook's Triumph in the Australian Team
Alastair Cook's 766 runs from an English player during an Ashes series was only surpassed by cricket legend Wally Hammond
Brisbane hasn't been a city to give the Three Lions badly required Ashes optimism
In the wake of losing to the Australian side during the opening match, England need to regroup for a trip to the Gabba, a ground where the English haven't triumphed since 1986
Men wearing three lions have often become lambs to the slaughter at this challenging venue
A Shining Knight's Achievement
Within recent memory of broken English hopes, aspirations and players lies an inspirational story provided by a shining knight
Today commemorates a decade and a half after Alastair Cook dominated in Brisbane via a landmark 235 without loss, rescuing the opening match of 2010-11 paving England's path for their unique Ashes triumph on Australian soil over nearly four decades
Unforgettable Series
It commenced of Cook's triumphant Australian campaign; three centuries accumulating 766 runs
Cricket great Hammond is the only Englishman to score more runs during a Test series in this country
Victory came 3-1, with every win through innings victories
England hasn't achieved a Test here since that historic campaign
Cook's Memories
"One tends to forget the tough times, the apprehension and concern that went into that," Cook recalls
"I look back with pride. I played a significant part in a tournament that saw England triumphed 3-1 in Australia and all three games were won by an innings"
Journey to Excellence
Cook's road toward Australian glory started a year and a half before following that year's Ashes in the UK
England won, the opener had an average below 25 managing only one innings exceeding half-century
He wanted more
"Cricket is a team game, individual contribution creates the sensation like you want to pull your weight," he states
Technical Transformation
Two days after the victory celebrations, he was back at work hitting hundreds and hundreds of balls in the nets alongside Graham Gooch
Early outcomes were encouraging
He scored three centuries during winter tours in South Africa and Bangladesh
Crucial Turning Points
Upon his return to England for that year's summer, the batsman performed poorly
During eight batting opportunities versus Bangladesh and Pakistan, his highest score reached only 29
Without runs after the second day during the final Test against Pakistan at the famous ground, the batsman felt certain this would be his concluding international appearance before being dropped
"I found myself in the bar, attempting to discover the resolution in the bottom of a beer bottle," he admits
Critical Moment
The 110-run innings ensured his position in the squad down under
The team maintained preparations by winning two and drawing one of their warm-up games in Australia
When the first Test arrived at the famous ground, they faced a Siddle hat-trick
Record-Breaking Stand
Just before the third day's close, Cook and Strauss began England's second batting effort with a deficit of 221 runs
The score stood at 19-0 at stumps and followed up through a demonstration etched in Ashes folklore
"I cannot recall any instructions, our discussions," Cook remembers
Both left-handed batsmen accumulated 188 runs in their partnership
The 235 without dismissal was the highest score achieved by a Briton in Australia in eight decades
Series Dominance
The English took advantage of an incredible start in the second match in Adelaide
Following Anderson's additional wicket the opposition player, the score read 2-3 and couldn't recover
Cook followed up his Queensland achievement by scoring 148 during a memorable Test for Kevin Pietersen dismantling the Australian bowling
Ultimate Victory
The English might have secured the series in Western Australia, only for Mitchell Johnson to foreshadow the havoc that would come later
What followed was arguably England's best performance during Ashes competition on Australian soil
In Melbourne, the enormous ground of Australian sport, and on Boxing Day, the Australian team were blown away for 98
"If perfection existed for Boxing Day, that defined it. Amazement prevailed at the end of the day," says Cook
Series Conclusion
Motivated by purpose to claim victory, the batsman performed brilliantly in Sydney
His 189 helped England reach 644, their highest total in a Test in Australia
The question was not whether England would triumph the game and series, rather when
"The feeling was unbelievable," says Cook
"When Tremlett got Michael Beer to secure victory, it represented an instant of pure elation"
Enduring Impact
Cook was player of the series
The following seven seasons in his international career were illuminated by additional achievements
After retiring internationally, he received a knighthood for cricket contributions
"{I couldn't have played any better|
