🔗 Share this article 766 and All That - Cook's Triumph in Australia Alastair Cook's impressive 766 from an English player during an Ashes series was only surpassed by cricket legend Wally Hammond Lead Cricket Journalist in Brisbane Posted just now Brisbane hasn't been a place that offers the English team some much-needed hope for the Ashes In the wake of losing to Australia during the opening match, the tourists have to bounce back for a trip to the Gabba, a ground where England have not won since 1986 Men wearing three lions have often become easy prey in Brisbane Cook's Memorable Success Throughout modern times of English disappointments, dreams and bodies exists a motivational tale delivered by a cricket hero This marks a decade and a half after Alastair Cook conquered the Gabba through a defining 235 not out, preserving the initial Test of 2010-11 paving England's path to their only Ashes series win on Australian soil during recent memory Historic Achievement It was the beginning of his successful tour of Australia; three hundred-plus scores totaling 766 runs Wally Hammond stands as the only Briton with higher run totals in a series on Australian soil Victory came 3-1, where each success via comprehensive wins They have not won a Test here since that memorable series Personal Reflections "People overlook the difficult moments, the tension and worry involved in that achievement," Cook recalls "I look back with pride. My contribution was substantial in a tournament that saw England triumphed 3-1 in Australia where each victory came through innings wins" The Road to Greatness The path to down under success commenced well before after the 2009 series in England England won, the opening batsman averaged less than 25 with just one score exceeding half-century He desired better "Despite cricket's collective nature, the individuality does make you feel that you must contribute adequately," he explains Skill Development Shortly after the celebrations, he returned practicing numerous deliveries in practice under Graham Gooch's guidance Beginning performances proved positive Cook made three hundreds on the 2009-10 winter tours against South African and Bangladeshi teams Crucial Turning Points After coming back to home soil for that year's summer, the batsman performed poorly In eight innings against Bangladesh and Pakistan, his best performance was 29 Scoreless overnight after day two during the final Test facing Pakistan at The Oval, Cook was convinced it might be his last Test innings ahead of potential omission "I was sitting in the hospitality area, attempting to discover the solution by drowning sorrows," he confesses Decisive Instance Cook's 110 ensured his position on the plane to Australia Preparation continued through successful warm-ups in practice matches on Australian soil Come the first Test at the Gabba, they were hit by three wickets from Siddle Record-Breaking Stand Shortly prior to the end of the third day, Cook and Strauss opened England's second innings needing to overcome 221 runs They reached 19-0 when play concluded and followed up with a performance engraved in cricket memory "I don't remember specific guidance, anything of what we spoke about," recalls Cook The opening pair contributed 188 together The 235 without dismissal stood as the best performance by an Englishman on Australian soil for 82 years Total Command England capitalised on an incredible start of the second Test in South Australia When Anderson also nicked off the opposition player, the hosts stood at 2-3 and never recovered Cook followed up his Brisbane heroics through a 148-run innings in a Test remembered featuring Pietersen's destruction of the Australian bowling The Final Triumph The English might have secured the series in Western Australia, but Mitchell Johnson to preview the destruction from future encounters What followed was arguably England's best performance of Ashes cricket in Australia In Melbourne, the massive stadium of Australian sport, on the holiday, the Australian team were dismissed for 98 "If Carlsberg did Boxing Days, this was it. Incredulity reigned as the day ended," Cook remembers Series Conclusion Driven by determination to secure the Ashes, Cook excelled once more at the SCG The 189-run innings lifted England to 644, their best score during Australian Tests The question was not if victory would come both match and urn, but when "The feeling was unbelievable," recalls Cook "When Tremlett got Michael Beer to claim triumph, that was a time of pure elation" Historical Significance The batsman received top accolades The remaining seven years in his international career included additional achievements Post-cricket career, he received a knighthood for cricket contributions "{I couldn't have played any better|