🔗 Share this article 766 and All That - When Cook Conquered Australia The legendary 766 runs scored by an English batsman in Australian conditions is only bettered by Wally Hammond Chief Cricket Reporter reporting from Brisbane Released just now Brisbane hasn't been a location providing the English team some much-needed confidence in the series After defeat by the hosts at the series start, the tourists have to bounce back before heading to Brisbane's Gabba, a stadium where victory has eluded England since 1986 Men wearing three lions have habitually been outmatched opponents in Brisbane A Shining Knight's Success Throughout modern times of English disappointments, hopes and athletes lies an inspirational story achieved by a cricket hero It is exactly a decade and a half after the legendary Cook mastered the Gabba through a defining 235 not out, saving the first Test during that famous series establishing England's trajectory to their only Ashes series win down under in the past 38 years Historic Achievement It was the beginning of Cook's triumphant Australian campaign; three centuries totaling 766 runs Cricket great Hammond stands as the only Briton to score more runs throughout a campaign in this country England won 3-1, with all victories via comprehensive wins They have not won a Test victory there since that historic campaign Personal Reflections "People overlook the difficult moments, the nervousness and anxiety accompanying that success," Cook recalls "I reflect proudly. I played a significant part in a series when the English secured a 3-1 victory down under where each victory came through innings wins" The Road to Greatness His journey to his Australian epic commenced well before after the 2009 series in England Despite English victory, the opener scored under 25 per innings achieving merely one performance above 50 He sought improvement "While cricket involves teamwork, individual contribution creates the sensation that you must contribute adequately," he explains Game Improvement Two days after the victory celebrations, he was back facing countless deliveries in practice with Graham Gooch Early outcomes proved positive The batsman achieved three centuries 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 In eight innings against Bangladesh and Pakistan, his top innings was 29 On nought not out at the end of the second day of the third Test against Pakistan in London, Cook believed he was playing his concluding international appearance prior to selection "There I was at the bar, trying to find the solution in the bottom of a beer bottle," he confesses Critical Moment The 110-run innings guaranteed his seat on the plane to Australia England continued their preparations with two victories and one draw of their warm-up games in Australia Come the first Test at the famous ground, they were hit by Peter Siddle's hat-trick Historic Partnership An hour before the third day's close, both batsmen began England's second batting effort with a deficit of 221 runs They reached 19-0 when play concluded and proceeded with a performance engraved in cricket memory "My memory doesn't retain the messages, our discussions," Cook remembers The left-handers accumulated 188 runs for the first wicket The 235 without dismissal stood as the best performance achieved by a Briton down under for 82 years Complete Control England exploited a remarkable opening session in the second match at Adelaide Following Anderson's additional wicket Michael Clarke, the score read 2-3 and couldn't recover Cook followed up his Brisbane success by scoring 148 during a memorable Test for Kevin Pietersen dismantling the opposition bowlers Ultimate Victory England could have retained the series in Western Australia, only for Mitchell Johnson to foreshadow the havoc that would come later What followed was possibly England's finest day of Ashes cricket down under At the MCG, the enormous ground of Australian sport, during Boxing Day, the hosts were dismissed for 98 "For ideal Boxing Days, it was that. Incredulity reigned as the day ended," recalls Cook Series Conclusion Motivated by purpose to secure the Ashes, the batsman performed brilliantly in Sydney His 189 lifted England to 644, their record innings on Australian soil The uncertainty wasn't if England would win the match and the Ashes, rather when "The environment was electric," Cook remembers "Following Tremlett's wicket of Michael Beer to win the match, it was a moment of absolute joy" Enduring Impact The batsman received top accolades The subsequent seven years of his Test career were illuminated by further accomplishments Post-cricket career, he was honored for services to cricket "{I couldn't have played any better|