766 and All That - When Cook Conquered the Australian Team

Brisbane is not a location providing the Three Lions badly required confidence in the series

After defeat by Australia during the opening match, the tourists need to regroup before heading to the famous Gabba, a ground where England have not won for decades

Men wearing three lions have frequently been easy prey at the Gabbatoir

Cook's Memorable Success

Among a recent history of dashed English dreams, dreams and bodies is a source of inspiration provided by a shining knight

Today commemorates a decade and a half after the legendary Cook mastered the Gabba with a career-defining unbeaten 235, saving the first Test during that famous series establishing England's trajectory to their only Ashes series win on Australian soil over nearly four decades

Historic Achievement

This marked the start of Cook's triumphant circumnavigation of Australia; three centuries and 766 runs

Cricket great Hammond stands as the only Briton who has made more runs throughout a campaign on Australian soil

England won 3-1, where each success by an innings

The team hasn't secured success at this venue since that memorable series

Looking Back

"People overlook the tough times, the nervousness and anxiety accompanying that success," the cricketer reflects

"With pride I remember. My contribution was substantial in a tournament that saw England triumphed 3-1 in Australia with every match were won by an innings"

Journey to Excellence

His journey to down under success began 18 months earlier at the end of the 2009 Ashes in England

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

He desired better

"Cricket is a team game, the individuality does make you feel like you want to pull your weight," he states

Technical Transformation

Just 48 hours following the triumphant events, he was back at work facing countless deliveries in practice alongside Graham Gooch

The initial results were encouraging

The batsman achieved three hundreds during winter tours in South Africa and Bangladesh

Crucial Turning Points

When Cook returned to England during the 2010 season, the batsman had a "stinker"

In eight innings facing these opponents, his top innings was 29

Without runs following the second day's play of the third Test against Pakistan at The Oval, Cook was convinced he was playing his last Test innings before being dropped

"I was sitting at the bar, seeking the solution by drowning sorrows," he reveals

Critical Moment

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

The team maintained preparations with two victories and one draw in practice matches on Australian soil

When the first Test arrived in Brisbane, they were hit by Peter Siddle's hat-trick

Memorable Collaboration

Shortly prior to the third day's close, Cook and Strauss began England's second batting effort trailing by 221 runs

The score stood at 19-0 at stumps then continued through a demonstration etched in Ashes folklore

"I cannot recall specific guidance, our conversations," says Cook

The left-handers accumulated 188 runs in their partnership

Cook's 235 not out was the highest score from an English player down under since the 1930s

Series Dominance

England exploited an astonishing first morning during the following Test at Adelaide

When Anderson also nicked off the opposition player, the score read 2-3 and struggled throughout

The batsman proceeded his Brisbane heroics through a 148-run innings in a Test remembered featuring Pietersen's destruction of the Australian bowling

Series Conclusion

England could have retained the Ashes in Perth, only for Mitchell Johnson to indicate the trouble he would cause four years later

What followed was perhaps England's single greatest day in Ashes history on Australian soil

In Melbourne, the massive stadium of sports down under, during Boxing Day, the Australian team were dismissed for 98

"If Carlsberg did Boxing Days, it was that. Incredulity reigned as the day ended," says Cook

Series Conclusion

Motivated by purpose to claim victory, Cook excelled once more in Sydney

His 189 helped England reach 644, their record innings in a Test in Australia

The question was not whether England would triumph both match and urn, but the timing

"The atmosphere was incredible," recalls Cook

"After Tremlett dismissed Michael Beer to claim triumph, that was a time of absolute joy"

Legacy and Recognition

The batsman received top accolades

The subsequent seven years of his Test career included additional achievements

Following his international retirement, he was honored for cricket contributions

"{I couldn't have played any better|