The Legend of 766 - Cook's Dominance of Down Under
The legendary record-breaking 766 from an English player on an Ashes tour ranks second only to cricket legend Wally Hammond
The Queensland capital isn't a place that offers England badly required confidence in the series
Following the loss to Australia during the opening match, the tourists need to regroup ahead of visiting the Gabba, a stadium where victory has eluded England since 1986
Players representing England have frequently been lambs to the slaughter in Brisbane
A Shining Knight's Triumph
Throughout modern times of dashed English dreams, aspirations and players is a source of inspiration achieved by an exceptional player
It is exactly a decade and a half after the legendary Cook conquered the Gabba through a defining unbeaten 235, rescuing the opening match from the 2010-11 series paving England's path to their only Ashes series win on Australian soil in the past 38 years
Unforgettable Series
It commenced of the victorious circumnavigation of Australia; three centuries and 766 runs
Cricket great Hammond stands as the only Briton to score more runs throughout a campaign down under
Victory came 3-1, with every win by an innings
They have not won a Test here since that memorable series
Cook's Memories
"You forget the tough times, the tension and worry accompanying that success," the cricketer reflects
"I look back with pride. My contribution was substantial in a tournament that saw England won 3-1 in Australia where each victory was achieved comprehensively"
Path to Success
Cook's road toward Australian glory began 18 months earlier at the end of that year's Ashes in England
Though England triumphed, the opening batsman scored under 25 per innings achieving merely one performance above 50
He desired better
"Despite cricket's collective nature, individual contribution generates the feeling that personal responsibility matters," he states
Technical Transformation
Two days after the triumphant events, he was back at work practicing numerous of balls in the nets with Graham Gooch
Beginning performances were encouraging
Cook made three hundreds on overseas campaigns against South African and Bangladeshi teams
Career-Defining Moments
When Cook returned to England for that year's summer, the batsman had a "stinker"
During eight batting opportunities versus Bangladesh and Pakistan, his best performance reached only 29
Scoreless overnight at the end of day two in the third match against Pakistan at The Oval, Cook was convinced this would be his concluding international appearance before being dropped
"There I was at the bar, seeking the resolution by drowning sorrows," he reveals
The Turning Point
Cook's 110 secured his place in the squad down under
England continued their preparations by winning two and drawing one of their warm-up games on Australian soil
As the opening match began at the Gabba, they faced Peter Siddle's hat-trick
Memorable Collaboration
Shortly prior to the third day's close, both batsmen 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
"My memory doesn't retain specific guidance, our discussions," Cook remembers
The opening pair added 188 in their partnership
The 235 without dismissal represented the top score by an Englishman down under since the 1930s
Complete Control
England capitalised on an incredible start during the following Test at Adelaide
After Anderson also dismissed Michael Clarke, Australia were 2-3 and couldn't recover
Cook followed up his Brisbane success with 148 in a famous match for Kevin Pietersen dismantling the opposition bowlers
The Final Triumph
England could have retained the urn in Perth, but Mitchell Johnson to preview the destruction from future encounters
Then came possibly England's finest day of Ashes cricket on Australian soil
In Melbourne, the massive stadium of sports down under, and on Boxing Day, the home side were dismissed for 98
"If Carlsberg did Boxing Days, that defined it. Amazement prevailed at the end of the day," says Cook
The Final Victory
Driven by determination to claim victory, the batsman performed brilliantly at the SCG
His score of 189 helped England reach 644, their record innings in a Test in Australia
The question was not if victory would come the game and series, but when
"The atmosphere was incredible," says Cook
"After Tremlett dismissed the last player to secure victory, it represented an instant of absolute joy"
Historical Significance
He earned series honors
The following seven seasons in his international career featured further accomplishments
Following his international retirement, he was honored for services to cricket
"{I couldn't have played any better|