766 and All That - When Cook Conquered Down Under
Sir Alastair's 766 runs scored by an English batsman on an Ashes tour ranks second only to cricket legend Wally Hammond
Brisbane is not a city to give the English team some much-needed confidence in the series
After defeat by Australia in the first Test, England must stir themselves before heading to Brisbane's Gabba, a ground where victory has eluded England for decades
Players representing England have frequently been lambs to the slaughter in Brisbane
Cook's Memorable Triumph
Within recent memory of dashed English dreams, hopes and athletes lies an inspirational story provided by a cricket hero
Today commemorates 15 years since the legendary Cook mastered the Gabba via a landmark 235 not out, preserving the initial Test of 2010-11 paving England's path for their unique Ashes triumph in Australia over nearly four decades
Record-Breaking Performance
This marked the start of the victorious tour of Australia; three centuries totaling 766 runs
Wally Hammond remains the sole English player to score more runs in a series on Australian soil
England won 3-1, with every win through innings victories
They have not won success at this venue since that memorable series
Personal Reflections
"You forget the tough times, the nervousness and anxiety that went into that," Cook remembers
"With pride I remember. I made an important impact during a campaign where the English secured a 3-1 victory in Australia with every match were won by an innings"
Journey to Excellence
The path to down under success began 18 months earlier after the 2009 Ashes in the UK
England won, the opener had an average below 25 managing only one innings exceeding half-century
He desired better
"While cricket involves teamwork, personal performance generates the feeling like you want to pull your weight," he notes
Skill Development
Two days after the victory celebrations, he returned hitting hundreds and hundreds of balls in the nets with Graham Gooch
Beginning performances showed promise
Cook made three hundred-run innings during winter tours in South Africa and Bangladesh
Crucial Turning Points
Upon his return to home soil for that year's summer, the left-hander performed poorly
During eight batting opportunities against Bangladesh and Pakistan, his best performance totaled just 29 runs
On nought not out after the second day's play during the final Test versus Pakistan at The Oval, the batsman felt certain it might be his last Test innings ahead of potential omission
"I found myself in the hospitality area, attempting to discover the resolution by drowning sorrows," he admits
Critical Moment
Cook's 110 secured his place on the plane to Australia
England continued their preparations by winning two and drawing one during preparatory contests in Australia
Come the first Test at the famous ground, they faced Peter Siddle's hat-trick
Record-Breaking Stand
An hour before the third day's close, Cook and Strauss opened England's second innings trailing by 221 runs
They achieved 19 without loss at stumps then continued with a performance remembered in Ashes history
"My memory doesn't retain specific guidance, our conversations," says Cook
Both left-handed batsmen added 188 together
Cook's 235 not out stood as the best performance achieved by a Briton down under for 82 years
Complete Control
England exploited an astonishing first morning in the second match in South Australia
Following Anderson's additional wicket the Australian batsman, Australia were 2-3 and never recovered
The batsman proceeded his Brisbane heroics through a 148-run innings during a memorable Test featuring Pietersen's destruction of the opposition bowlers
The Final Triumph
Victory was possible the Ashes in Perth, but Mitchell Johnson to indicate the trouble that would come later
The subsequent events included arguably England's best performance during Ashes competition on Australian soil
At the MCG, the enormous ground of Australian sport, during Boxing Day, the hosts were dismissed for 98
"If Carlsberg did Boxing Days, that defined it. Incredulity reigned at the end of the day," Cook remembers
Series Conclusion
Fuelled by the focus to claim victory, Cook was at it again at the Sydney Cricket Ground
The 189-run innings lifted England to 644, their highest total on Australian soil
The debate didn't concern whether England would triumph the match and the Ashes, but when
"The environment was electric," says Cook
"When Tremlett got the last player to win the match, it was a moment of complete happiness"
Enduring Impact
He earned series honors
The remaining seven years of his Test career featured additional achievements
Post-cricket career, he received a knighthood for services to cricket
"{I couldn't have played any better|