🔗 Share this article Remembering 766 - When Cook Conquered the Australian Team Alastair Cook's record-breaking 766 by an Englishman in Australian conditions was only surpassed by the great Wally Hammond Lead Cricket Journalist reporting from Brisbane Published recently The Queensland capital isn't a place that offers England crucial confidence in the series After defeat by Australia in the first Test, the tourists need to regroup before heading to the Gabba, a stadium where victory has eluded England since 1986 English cricketers have often become easy prey in Brisbane Cook's Memorable Triumph Within recent memory of dashed English dreams, dreams and bodies is a source of inspiration achieved by a cricket hero This marks 15 years since Alastair Cook conquered the Gabba via a landmark unbeaten 235, 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 hundred-plus scores totaling 766 runs Wally Hammond stands as the only Briton to score more runs during a Test series down under England won 3-1, with all victories by an innings They have not won a Test here since those glory days Looking Back "People overlook the tough times, the tension and worry accompanying that success," Cook recalls "I look back with pride. I made an important impact in a series when England won 3-1 in Australia and all three games was achieved comprehensively" Journey to Excellence Cook's road to down under success commenced well before after the 2009 series in the UK Though England triumphed, Cook scored under 25 per innings managing only one innings over fifty He desired better "Cricket is a team game, personal performance does make you feel that personal responsibility matters," he explains Game Improvement Just 48 hours following the triumphant events, he was back at work hitting hundreds and hundreds deliveries in practice alongside Graham Gooch The initial results were encouraging The batsman achieved three hundred-run innings during winter tours against South African and Bangladeshi teams Pivotal Instances Upon his return to England for the 2010 summer, the left-hander performed poorly Across eight appearances against Bangladesh and Pakistan, his top innings reached only 29 On nought not out following day two during the final Test facing Pakistan at the famous ground, the batsman felt certain he was playing his last Test innings prior to selection "I found myself in the hospitality area, trying to find the solution through drinking," he confesses Critical Moment The 110-run innings ensured his position in the squad down under England continued their preparations with two victories and one draw in practice matches in Australia As the opening match began at the famous ground, they faced Peter Siddle's hat-trick Record-Breaking Stand An hour before the third day's close, Cook and Strauss opened England's second innings needing to overcome 221 runs The score stood at 19-0 at stumps and followed up with an exhibition engraved in cricket memory "I don't remember specific guidance, our discussions," says Cook Both left-handed batsmen contributed 188 in their partnership Cook's 235 not out was the highest score by an Englishman in Australia for 82 years Series Dominance England exploited a remarkable opening session during the following Test in Adelaide Following Anderson's additional wicket the Australian batsman, Australia were 2-3 and never recovered He continued his Brisbane success through a 148-run innings in a famous match featuring Pietersen's destruction of the opposition bowlers The Final Triumph The English might have secured the series in Western Australia, however Johnson to preview the destruction he would cause four years later What followed was perhaps England's single greatest day during Ashes competition on Australian soil At the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the massive stadium of sports down under, during Boxing Day, the Australian team collapsed to 98 all out "If Carlsberg did Boxing Days, that defined it. Incredulity reigned when play concluded," Cook remembers Ultimate Success Motivated by purpose to secure the Ashes, the batsman performed brilliantly at the SCG His 189 lifted England to 644, their record innings during Australian Tests The uncertainty wasn't if England would win both match and urn, but the timing "The environment was electric," Cook remembers "When Tremlett got the last player to win the match, it was a moment of absolute joy" Historical Significance Cook was player of the series The remaining seven years of his cricket journey were illuminated by other milestones Following his international retirement, Cook was knighted for services to cricket "{I couldn't have played any better|