The Legend of 766 - Cook's Triumph in Down Under
Sir Alastair's 766 runs scored by an English batsman during an Ashes series ranks second only to Wally Hammond
The Queensland capital isn't a city to give the Three Lions badly required confidence in the series
Following the loss to Australia at the series start, the tourists must stir themselves for a trip to the famous Gabba, a stadium where England have not won for over thirty years
English cricketers have often become easy prey in Brisbane
The Inspirational Achievement
Within recent memory of broken English hopes, dreams and bodies is a source of inspiration provided by a shining knight
Today commemorates 15 years since the legendary Cook mastered the Gabba via a landmark 235 without loss, rescuing the opening match from the 2010-11 series and setting England on course toward their sole series victory in Australia over nearly four decades
Record-Breaking Performance
It was the beginning of Cook's triumphant Australian campaign; three hundreds and 766 runs
The legendary Hammond is the only Englishman to score more runs throughout a campaign in this country
Victory came 3-1, with every win through innings victories
The team hasn't secured a Test victory there since those glory days
Looking Back
"One tends to forget the challenging periods, the tension and worry that went into that," Cook remembers
"I reflect proudly. I played a significant part during a campaign where England triumphed 3-1 on Australian soil and all three games came through innings wins"
Path to Success
His journey to his Australian epic started a year and a half before after the 2009 Ashes in the UK
Despite English victory, Cook had an average below 25 with just one score over fifty
He desired better
"Despite cricket's collective nature, personal performance creates the sensation like you want to pull your weight," he states
Game Improvement
Two days after the celebrations, he returned hitting hundreds and hundreds deliveries in practice with Graham Gooch
Beginning performances were encouraging
The batsman achieved three centuries on the 2009-10 winter tours against South African and Bangladeshi teams
Crucial Turning Points
Upon his return to home soil for that year's summer, the left-hander performed poorly
Across eight appearances against Bangladesh and Pakistan, his highest score totaled just 29 runs
On nought not out following day two during the final Test against Pakistan in London, Cook believed he was playing his final Test performance ahead of potential omission
"There I was in the hospitality area, seeking the solution in the bottom of a beer bottle," he reveals
Critical Moment
His century secured his place for the Australian tour
The team maintained preparations with two victories and one draw of their warm-up games in Australia
As the opening match began at the Gabba, they faced three wickets from Siddle
Memorable Collaboration
Just before the end of the third day, Cook and Strauss began England's second batting effort with a deficit of 221 runs
They reached 19-0 when play concluded and proceeded through a demonstration etched in Ashes folklore
"My memory doesn't retain specific guidance, our conversations," Cook remembers
Both left-handed batsmen contributed 188 for the first wicket
Cook's 235 not out stood as the best performance from an English player in Australia in eight decades
Complete Control
England capitalised on an incredible start in the second match in South Australia
When Anderson also nicked off the opposition player, the hosts stood at 2-3 and couldn't recover
Cook followed up his Queensland achievement by scoring 148 in a famous match for Kevin Pietersen dismantling the Australian attack
The Final Triumph
Victory was possible the Ashes in Perth, however Johnson to preview the destruction from future encounters
What followed was perhaps England's single greatest day of Ashes cricket in Australia
At the MCG, the 100,000-seater cathedral of Australian sport, and on Boxing Day, the home side were dismissed for 98
"If Carlsberg did Boxing Days, that defined it. There was disbelief when play concluded," Cook remembers
Series Conclusion
Fuelled by the focus to win the urn, the batsman performed brilliantly at the Sydney Cricket Ground
The 189-run innings contributed to England's 644, their highest total on Australian soil
The uncertainty wasn't if England would win the game and series, rather when
"The atmosphere was incredible," recalls Cook
"When Tremlett got Michael Beer to claim triumph, it was a moment of complete happiness"
Legacy and Recognition
He earned series honors
The following seven seasons in his international career were illuminated by additional achievements
Post-cricket career, he received a knighthood for cricket contributions
"{I couldn't have played any better|