🔗 Share this article Remembering 766 - Cook's Dominance of Down Under Sir Alastair's record-breaking 766 from an English player during an Ashes series was only surpassed by the great Wally Hammond Chief Cricket Reporter reporting from Brisbane Released 45 minutes ago Brisbane hasn't been a place that offers the English team badly required Ashes optimism In the wake of losing to the Australian side at the series start, the visiting team have to bounce back before heading to the famous Gabba, a ground where victory has eluded England since 1986 English cricketers have habitually been lambs to the slaughter at the Gabbatoir A Shining Knight's Triumph Within recent memory 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 through a defining 235 not out, saving the first Test of 2010-11 paving England's path for their unique Ashes triumph down under over nearly four decades Unforgettable Series It was the beginning of his successful circumnavigation of Australia; three centuries totaling 766 runs The legendary Hammond is the only Englishman who has made more runs throughout a campaign on Australian soil Victory came 3-1, where each success through innings victories The team hasn't secured a Test victory there since that historic campaign Looking Back "You forget the challenging periods, the apprehension and concern involved in that achievement," the cricketer reflects "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 and all three games came through innings wins" Path to Success His journey to down under success commenced well before at the end of the 2009 Ashes on home soil Despite English victory, Cook scored under 25 per innings achieving merely one performance over fifty He desired better "Despite cricket's collective nature, personal performance generates the feeling that you must contribute adequately," he notes Technical Transformation Shortly after the celebrations, he returned practicing numerous bowls during training alongside Graham Gooch Early outcomes proved positive He scored three hundred-run innings during winter tours in South Africa and Bangladesh Pivotal Instances After coming back to home soil during the 2010 season, the batsman performed poorly During eight batting opportunities against Bangladesh and Pakistan, his highest score was 29 Scoreless overnight after the second day's play in the third match against Pakistan in London, Cook was convinced he was playing his concluding international appearance before being dropped "I found myself at the bar, attempting to discover the answer in the bottom of a beer bottle," he confesses Critical Moment His century secured his place on the plane to Australia The team maintained preparations with two victories and one draw of their warm-up games in Australia As the opening match began at the famous ground, they were hit by Peter Siddle's hat-trick Record-Breaking Stand Just before the end of the third day, Cook and Strauss started the English reply needing to overcome 221 runs The score stood at 19-0 by day's end and followed up through a demonstration etched in Ashes folklore "My memory doesn't retain any instructions, our discussions," recalls Cook The left-handers added 188 in their partnership The 235 without dismissal represented the top score achieved by a Briton on Australian soil for 82 years Series Dominance The English took advantage of an incredible start of the second Test in Adelaide Following Anderson's additional wicket the opposition player, Australia were 2-3 and never recovered He continued his Queensland achievement with 148 in a famous match featuring Pietersen's destruction of the Australian bowling Ultimate Victory England could have retained the Ashes in Perth, however Johnson to foreshadow the havoc that would come later Then came perhaps England's single greatest day of Ashes cricket on Australian soil At the MCG, the massive stadium of sports down under, on the holiday, the home side collapsed to 98 all out "For ideal Boxing Days, that defined it. Amazement prevailed at the end of the day," says Cook Series Conclusion Motivated by purpose to secure the Ashes, Cook was at it again at the Sydney Cricket Ground His score of 189 contributed to England's 644, their record innings during Australian Tests The uncertainty wasn't if victory would come the game and series, rather when "The feeling was unbelievable," says Cook "When Tremlett got the final batsman to secure victory, that was a time of pure elation" Legacy and Recognition He earned series honors The subsequent seven years of his Test career featured further accomplishments After retiring internationally, Cook was knighted for cricket contributions "{I couldn't have played any better|