The Legend of 766 - When Cook Conquered Australia

The Queensland capital isn't a place that offers the English team crucial Ashes optimism

Following the loss to the Australian side during the opening match, the visiting team must stir themselves for a trip to Brisbane's Gabba, a venue where victory has eluded England since 1986

English cricketers have habitually been outmatched opponents at the Gabbatoir

A Shining Knight's Success

Within recent memory of broken English hopes, hopes and athletes is a source of inspiration provided by a cricket hero

Today commemorates a decade and a half after Alastair Cook mastered the Gabba through a defining 235 without loss, rescuing the opening match from the 2010-11 series and setting England on course toward their sole series victory down under in the past 38 years

Historic Achievement

It was the beginning of Cook's triumphant Australian campaign; three hundreds and 766 runs

Wally Hammond stands as the only Briton with higher run totals throughout a campaign in this country

England won 3-1, where each success through innings victories

The team hasn't secured a Test here since that memorable series

Looking Back

"You forget the tough times, the apprehension and concern accompanying that success," Cook remembers

"I look back with pride. I made an important impact in a series when the English secured a 3-1 victory in Australia where each victory came through innings wins"

Path to Success

The path to down under success commenced well before following that year's Ashes in the UK

England won, the opening batsman scored under 25 per innings with just one score over fifty

He wanted more

"While cricket involves teamwork, the individuality generates the feeling that personal responsibility matters," he notes

Game Improvement

Shortly after the celebrations, he was back hitting hundreds and hundreds bowls during training alongside Graham Gooch

Early outcomes showed promise

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

Crucial Turning Points

Upon his return to British conditions for the 2010 summer, Cook performed poorly

During eight batting opportunities against Bangladesh and Pakistan, his best performance reached only 29

Without runs at the end of the second day's play during the final Test versus Pakistan at The Oval, Cook was convinced it might be his last Test innings before being dropped

"There I was in the bar, seeking the solution through drinking," he reveals

Critical Moment

Cook's 110 secured his place for the Australian tour

The team maintained preparations with two victories and one draw of their warm-up games on Australian soil

Come the first Test at the famous ground, they were hit by three wickets from Siddle

Memorable Collaboration

Just before day three's conclusion, both batsmen started the English reply with a deficit of 221 runs

The score stood at 19-0 at stumps then continued with an exhibition etched in Ashes folklore

"I don't remember any instructions, anything of what we spoke about," Cook remembers

The left-handers contributed 188 for the first wicket

The 235 without dismissal stood as the best performance by an Englishman on Australian soil in eight decades

Complete Control

England capitalised on a remarkable opening session during the following Test in Adelaide

Following Anderson's additional wicket the Australian batsman, the hosts stood at 2-3 and struggled throughout

The batsman proceeded his Brisbane success with 148 during a memorable Test highlighting Pietersen's dominance over the Australian bowling

The Final Triumph

The English might have secured the urn in Perth, but Mitchell Johnson to indicate the trouble he would cause four years later

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

In Melbourne, the 100,000-seater cathedral of Australian sport, during Boxing Day, the hosts were dismissed for 98

"If Carlsberg did Boxing Days, that defined it. There was disbelief as the day ended," recalls Cook

Series Conclusion

Driven by determination to claim victory, the batsman performed brilliantly at the Sydney Cricket Ground

His score of 189 lifted England to 644, their record innings during Australian Tests

The debate didn't concern whether England would triumph both match and urn, rather when

"The atmosphere was incredible," Cook remembers

"When Tremlett got the last player to claim triumph, it represented an instant of complete happiness"

Enduring Impact

Cook was player of the series

The remaining seven years in his international career included additional achievements

Post-cricket career, he was honored for cricket contributions

"{I couldn't have played any better|