🔗 Share this article 766 and All That - When Cook Conquered Australia The legendary impressive 766 scored by an English batsman on an Ashes tour is only bettered by the great Wally Hammond Senior Cricket Correspondent in Brisbane Released 45 minutes ago Brisbane is not a place that offers the English team crucial confidence in the series After defeat by the hosts at the series start, the visiting team must stir themselves for a trip to the Gabba, a venue where England have not won for decades Players representing England have often become outmatched opponents at the Gabbatoir Cook's Memorable Achievement Among a recent history of dashed English dreams, dreams and bodies is a source of inspiration provided by a shining knight Today commemorates 15 years since Sir Alastair Cook mastered the Gabba via a landmark 235 without loss, preserving the initial Test of 2010-11 establishing England's trajectory to their only Ashes series win on Australian soil over nearly four decades Historic Achievement It commenced of the victorious Australian campaign; three hundreds and 766 runs Cricket great Hammond is the only Englishman to score more runs during a Test series on Australian soil England won 3-1, where each success through innings victories The team hasn't secured a Test here since that memorable series Personal Reflections "You forget the challenging periods, the tension and worry accompanying that success," Cook remembers "With pride I remember. I made an important impact in a series when England won 3-1 on Australian soil and all three games was achieved comprehensively" Path to Success The path to his Australian epic started a year and a half before at the end of the 2009 Ashes in the UK England won, the opening batsman had an average below 25 achieving merely one performance exceeding half-century He desired better "While cricket involves teamwork, the individuality creates the sensation like you want to pull your weight," he explains Technical Transformation Just 48 hours following the triumphant events, he returned facing countless bowls during training under Graham Gooch's guidance Beginning performances showed promise He scored three hundred-run innings on overseas campaigns against South African and Bangladeshi teams Crucial Turning Points When Cook returned to home soil for that year's summer, the left-hander had a "stinker" In eight innings against Bangladesh and Pakistan, his highest score totaled just 29 runs On nought not out following the second day during the final Test against Pakistan at The Oval, the batsman felt certain it might be his final Test performance prior to selection "I was sitting in the hospitality area, attempting to discover the resolution by drowning sorrows," he confesses The Turning Point Cook's 110 ensured his position on the plane to Australia Preparation continued with two victories and one draw during preparatory contests in Australia Come the first Test at the famous ground, they were hit by Peter Siddle's hat-trick Record-Breaking Stand Shortly prior to the third day's close, both batsmen started the English reply with a deficit of 221 runs They reached 19-0 at stumps and followed up with a performance remembered in Ashes history "My memory doesn't retain any instructions, anything of what we spoke about," recalls Cook The opening pair added 188 for the first wicket Cook's 235 not out represented the top score achieved by a Briton on Australian soil for 82 years Series Dominance England exploited a remarkable opening session in the second match at Adelaide When Anderson also nicked off Michael Clarke, the hosts stood at 2-3 and struggled throughout The batsman proceeded his Queensland achievement through a 148-run innings in a Test remembered for Kevin Pietersen dismantling the Australian attack The Final Triumph Victory was possible the series in Western Australia, but Mitchell Johnson to foreshadow the havoc from future encounters The subsequent events included possibly England's finest day during Ashes competition on Australian soil At the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the enormous ground 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 as the day ended," recalls Cook Series Conclusion Motivated by purpose to claim victory, Cook was at it again at the SCG The 189-run innings helped England reach 644, their best score in a Test in Australia The debate didn't concern if victory would come the game and series, but when "The atmosphere was incredible," Cook remembers "After Tremlett dismissed the last player to claim triumph, that was a time of pure elation" Historical Significance The batsman received top accolades The following seven seasons of his Test career were illuminated by further accomplishments After retiring internationally, Cook was knighted for cricket contributions "{I couldn't have played any better|