766 and All That - Cook's Dominance of Australia
The legendary record-breaking 766 scored by an English batsman in Australian conditions ranks second only to the great Wally Hammond
Brisbane hasn't been a city to give the English team crucial hope for the Ashes
In the wake of losing to the Australian side at the series start, England must stir themselves ahead of visiting the Gabba, a stadium where victory has eluded England since 1986
Men wearing three lions have often become easy prey at this challenging venue
Cook's Memorable Success
Throughout modern times of broken English hopes, hopes and athletes is a source of inspiration achieved by a cricket hero
It is exactly a decade and a half after Sir Alastair Cook conquered the Gabba via a landmark 235 without loss, preserving the initial Test during that famous series paving England's path to their only Ashes series win on Australian soil in the past 38 years
Historic Achievement
It was the beginning of Cook's triumphant circumnavigation of Australia; three hundred-plus scores accumulating 766 runs
Wally Hammond remains the sole English player to score more runs throughout a campaign on Australian soil
England won 3-1, with all victories by an innings
England hasn't achieved success at this venue since that historic campaign
Personal Reflections
"You forget the difficult moments, the apprehension and concern involved in that achievement," Cook remembers
"With pride I remember. I played a significant part in a tournament that saw England triumphed 3-1 in Australia where each victory came through innings wins"
Path to Success
The path to his Australian epic commenced well before after the 2009 series on home soil
Despite English victory, Cook scored under 25 per innings with just one score over fifty
He desired better
"While cricket involves teamwork, the individuality generates the feeling that you must contribute adequately," he states
Skill Development
Just 48 hours following the triumphant events, he was back hitting hundreds and hundreds of balls in the nets with Graham Gooch
Beginning performances showed promise
He scored three centuries during winter tours against South African and Bangladeshi teams
Career-Defining Moments
After coming back to British conditions for that year's summer, Cook performed poorly
In eight innings facing these opponents, his best performance was 29
Without runs following the second day's play of the third Test facing Pakistan at the famous ground, Cook was convinced he was playing his last Test innings prior to selection
"There I was in the bar, trying to find the answer by drowning sorrows," he confesses
Critical Moment
Cook's 110 secured his place on the plane to Australia
The team maintained preparations by winning two and drawing one of their warm-up games in Australia
When the first Test arrived at the Gabba, they were hit by a Siddle hat-trick
Memorable Collaboration
Just before the third day's close, both batsmen opened England's second innings needing to overcome 221 runs
The score stood at 19-0 when play concluded then continued with an exhibition etched in Ashes folklore
"I don't remember specific guidance, our conversations," says Cook
The opening pair added 188 together
Cook's 235 not out stood as the best performance by an Englishman in Australia for 82 years
Series Dominance
The English took advantage of an incredible start during the following Test in Adelaide
When Anderson also nicked off the Australian batsman, Australia were 2-3 and never recovered
The batsman proceeded his Brisbane success through a 148-run innings in a famous match for Kevin Pietersen dismantling the Australian attack
The Final Triumph
Victory was possible the urn in Perth, however Johnson to foreshadow the havoc from future encounters
The subsequent events included possibly England's finest day during Ashes competition in Australia
In Melbourne, the 100,000-seater cathedral of Australian cricket, and on Boxing Day, the hosts collapsed to 98 all out
"If perfection existed for Boxing Day, that defined it. Amazement prevailed as the day ended," Cook remembers
The Final Victory
Fuelled by the focus to secure the Ashes, Cook excelled once more at the Sydney Cricket Ground
The 189-run innings contributed to England's 644, their best score in a Test in Australia
The uncertainty wasn't whether England would triumph the game and series, rather when
"The environment was electric," says Cook
"When Tremlett got Michael Beer to claim triumph, it was a moment of absolute joy"
Enduring Impact
Cook was player of the series
The remaining seven years of his cricket journey featured further accomplishments
After retiring internationally, he was honored for cricket contributions
"{I couldn't have played any better|