🔗 Share this article 766 and All That - When Cook Conquered the Australian Team The legendary record-breaking 766 scored by an English batsman in Australian conditions ranks second only to Wally Hammond Senior Cricket Correspondent reporting from Brisbane Posted just now Brisbane is not a location providing the Three Lions some much-needed Ashes optimism In the wake of losing to Australia at the series start, the tourists have to bounce back ahead of visiting the Gabba, a venue where the English haven't triumphed for decades English cricketers have frequently been lambs to the slaughter at this challenging venue A Shining Knight's Achievement Among a recent history of English disappointments, hopes and athletes lies an inspirational story provided by an exceptional player This marks 15 years since Sir Alastair Cook dominated in Brisbane with a career-defining unbeaten 235, preserving the initial Test from the 2010-11 series establishing England's trajectory to their only Ashes series win down under over nearly four decades Historic Achievement It commenced of his successful circumnavigation of Australia; three hundreds totaling 766 runs The legendary Hammond is the only Englishman with higher run totals in a series on Australian soil England won 3-1, with all victories through innings victories They have not won success at this venue since that memorable series Looking Back "One tends to forget the challenging periods, the tension and worry accompanying that success," Cook recalls "I look back with pride. I played a significant part in a tournament that saw the English secured a 3-1 victory on Australian soil with every match were won by an innings" Journey to Excellence His journey toward Australian glory commenced well before following the 2009 series in the UK England won, the opener had an average below 25 with just one score above 50 He desired better "Cricket is a team game, the individuality creates the sensation that you must contribute adequately," he notes Technical Transformation Shortly after the triumphant events, he was back at work facing countless of balls in the nets with Graham Gooch Beginning performances proved positive The batsman achieved three hundreds on overseas campaigns against South African and Bangladeshi teams Pivotal Instances When Cook returned to British conditions for the 2010 summer, the left-hander performed poorly During eight batting opportunities against Bangladesh and Pakistan, his highest score totaled just 29 runs On nought not out at the end of the second day during the final Test facing Pakistan at The Oval, Cook was convinced this would be his concluding international appearance ahead of potential omission "I found myself at the bar, seeking the resolution in the bottom of a beer bottle," he confesses The Turning Point The 110-run innings guaranteed his seat in the squad down under Preparation continued by winning two and drawing one in practice matches on Australian soil As the opening match began in Brisbane, they were hit by three wickets from Siddle Historic Partnership Just before day three's conclusion, both batsmen started the English reply needing to overcome 221 runs They achieved 19 without loss when play concluded and proceeded with an exhibition engraved in cricket memory "I cannot recall the messages, our conversations," Cook remembers Both left-handed batsmen contributed 188 in their partnership The 235 without dismissal stood as the best performance by an Englishman on Australian soil in eight decades Total Command England exploited an astonishing first morning in the second match in South Australia After Anderson also dismissed the opposition player, the score read 2-3 and never recovered The batsman proceeded his Queensland achievement with 148 in a Test remembered for Kevin Pietersen dismantling the Australian bowling The Final Triumph Victory was possible the urn in Perth, only for Mitchell Johnson to indicate the trouble from future encounters What followed was arguably England's best performance of Ashes cricket in Australia At the MCG, the enormous ground of Australian sport, on the holiday, the Australian team were blown away for 98 "If Carlsberg did Boxing Days, that defined it. Incredulity reigned when play concluded," says Cook The Final Victory Driven by determination to win the urn, Cook was at it again in Sydney His score of 189 lifted England to 644, their highest total in a Test in Australia The uncertainty wasn't if England would win the game and series, rather when "The atmosphere was incredible," Cook remembers "When Tremlett got the last player to claim triumph, it represented an instant of pure elation" Legacy and Recognition Cook was player of the series The following seven seasons in his international career featured additional achievements After retiring internationally, he was honored for services to cricket "{I couldn't have played any better|