Remembering 766 - When Cook Conquered the Australian Team

Brisbane is not a place that offers the Three Lions badly required hope for the Ashes

In the wake of losing to the hosts during the opening match, England must stir themselves before heading to the Gabba, a stadium where the English haven't triumphed for over thirty years

Players representing England have habitually been lambs to the slaughter in Brisbane

A Shining Knight's Achievement

Throughout modern times of dashed English dreams, hopes and athletes exists a motivational tale delivered by a cricket hero

Today commemorates the 15th anniversary of the legendary Cook dominated in Brisbane with a career-defining 235 without loss, rescuing the opening match of 2010-11 establishing England's trajectory for their unique Ashes triumph on Australian soil during recent memory

Record-Breaking Performance

It commenced of the victorious tour of Australia; three hundreds totaling 766 runs

Cricket great Hammond remains the sole English player who has made more runs in a series in this country

Victory came 3-1, where each success through innings victories

England hasn't achieved a Test victory there since those glory days

Cook's Memories

"One tends to forget the challenging periods, the tension and worry that went into that," Cook recalls

"I look back with pride. I played a significant part during a campaign where the English secured a 3-1 victory in Australia and all three games was achieved comprehensively"

Journey to Excellence

The path to down under success commenced well before at the end of the 2009 Ashes in the UK

Despite English victory, Cook averaged less than 25 managing only one innings exceeding half-century

He wanted more

"While cricket involves teamwork, the individuality does make you feel that you must contribute adequately," he states

Skill Development

Shortly after the triumphant events, he was back at work practicing numerous of balls in the nets alongside Graham Gooch

The initial results proved positive

He scored three hundreds during winter tours to South Africa and Bangladesh

Crucial Turning Points

After coming back to home soil for the 2010 summer, the left-hander performed poorly

Across eight appearances versus Bangladesh and Pakistan, his highest score was 29

Without runs at the end of day two in the third match facing Pakistan at The Oval, Cook was convinced this would be his final Test performance ahead of potential omission

"I found myself in the bar, trying to find the answer by drowning sorrows," he admits

Critical Moment

Cook's 110 ensured his position on the plane to Australia

England continued their preparations by winning two and drawing one in practice matches down under

Come the first Test at the famous ground, they encountered a Siddle hat-trick

Memorable Collaboration

Shortly prior to the third day's close, both batsmen started the English reply needing to overcome 221 runs

They achieved 19 without loss at stumps and followed up through a demonstration remembered in Ashes history

"My memory doesn't retain specific guidance, our conversations," Cook remembers

Both left-handed batsmen accumulated 188 runs for the first wicket

His unbeaten 235 stood as the best performance achieved by a Briton on Australian soil for 82 years

Series Dominance

England capitalised on an astonishing first morning of the second Test at Adelaide

When Anderson also nicked off the Australian batsman, the hosts stood at 2-3 and couldn't recover

He continued his Queensland achievement by scoring 148 during a memorable Test for Kevin Pietersen dismantling the opposition bowlers

The Final Triumph

Victory was possible the urn in Perth, however Johnson to indicate the trouble he would cause four years later

Then came possibly England's finest day of Ashes cricket on Australian soil

At the MCG, the massive stadium of Australian cricket, on the holiday, the hosts were dismissed for 98

"For ideal Boxing Days, it was that. There was disbelief as the day ended," says Cook

Ultimate Success

Driven by determination to claim victory, the batsman performed brilliantly in Sydney

The 189-run innings contributed to England's 644, their best score during Australian Tests

The question was not if England would win both match and urn, rather when

"The atmosphere was incredible," recalls Cook

"Following Tremlett's wicket of the last player to secure victory, it was a moment of pure elation"

Legacy and Recognition

He earned series honors

The remaining seven years of his Test career featured further accomplishments

Following his international retirement, Cook was knighted for sporting achievements

"{I couldn't have played any better|