🔗 Share this article The Legend of 766 - When Cook Conquered the Australian Team Sir Alastair's impressive 766 by an Englishman during an Ashes series ranks second only to the great Wally Hammond Senior Cricket Correspondent based in Brisbane Posted recently Brisbane hasn't been a location providing the Three Lions some much-needed hope for the Ashes After defeat by the Australian side during the opening match, the visiting team have to bounce back for a trip to Brisbane's Gabba, a venue where victory has eluded England for decades English cricketers have frequently been lambs to the slaughter in Brisbane A Shining Knight's Achievement Among a recent history of broken English hopes, aspirations and players is a source of inspiration delivered by a cricket hero Today commemorates 15 years since Sir Alastair Cook mastered the Gabba with a career-defining 235 without loss, saving the first Test during that famous series establishing England's trajectory for their unique Ashes triumph in Australia over nearly four decades Unforgettable Series It commenced of the victorious Australian campaign; three hundred-plus scores accumulating 766 runs Wally Hammond is the only Englishman with higher run totals during a Test series on Australian soil Victory came 3-1, with every win through innings victories England hasn't achieved a Test victory there since that historic campaign Personal Reflections "One tends to forget the challenging periods, the apprehension and concern involved in that achievement," Cook recalls "I look back with pride. I played a significant part in a series when England triumphed 3-1 on Australian soil with every match were won by an innings" Journey to Excellence The path toward Australian glory began 18 months earlier following the 2009 Ashes on home soil Though England triumphed, the opener scored under 25 per innings managing only one innings over fifty He desired better "While cricket involves teamwork, individual contribution generates the feeling that personal responsibility matters," he states Technical Transformation Shortly after the victory celebrations, he was back at work hitting hundreds and hundreds of balls in the nets with Graham Gooch Beginning performances proved positive Cook made three hundred-run innings on overseas campaigns against South African and Bangladeshi teams Pivotal Instances Upon his return to home soil during the 2010 season, Cook struggled significantly During eight batting opportunities against Bangladesh and Pakistan, his best performance was 29 Scoreless overnight following the second day's play in the third match against Pakistan at the famous ground, the batsman felt certain he was playing his last Test innings prior to selection "There I was in the hospitality area, attempting to discover the solution through drinking," he reveals Critical Moment The 110-run innings guaranteed his seat for the Australian tour The team maintained preparations by winning two and drawing one of their warm-up games on Australian soil As the opening match began in Brisbane, they encountered Peter Siddle's hat-trick Record-Breaking Stand Shortly prior to the end of the third day, both batsmen opened England's second innings with a deficit of 221 runs They achieved 19 without loss when play concluded and followed up with a performance engraved in cricket memory "I cannot recall specific guidance, our discussions," Cook remembers Both left-handed batsmen accumulated 188 runs together Cook's 235 not out represented the top score achieved by a Briton down under in eight decades Complete Control The English took advantage of an astonishing first morning during the following Test in South Australia After Anderson also dismissed Michael Clarke, the score read 2-3 and struggled throughout The batsman proceeded his Queensland achievement with 148 in a Test remembered highlighting Pietersen's dominance over the Australian bowling Ultimate Victory The English might have secured the series in Western Australia, only for Mitchell Johnson to preview the destruction that would come later Then came perhaps England's single greatest day during Ashes competition on Australian soil At the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the enormous ground of Australian cricket, during Boxing Day, the Australian team collapsed to 98 all out "If perfection existed for Boxing Day, that defined it. Incredulity reigned at the end of the day," says Cook The Final Victory Driven by determination to win the urn, Cook excelled once more in Sydney His 189 lifted England to 644, their highest total during Australian Tests The uncertainty wasn't whether England would triumph both match and urn, rather when "The environment was electric," says Cook "When Tremlett got the last player to win the match, it was a moment of absolute joy" Legacy and Recognition Cook was player of the series The following seven seasons in his international career featured additional achievements Following his international retirement, Cook was knighted for sporting achievements "{I couldn't have played any better|