766 and All That - Cook's Triumph in Australia

Brisbane hasn't been a city to give the English team badly required confidence in the series

After defeat by Australia in the first Test, the visiting team need to regroup for a trip to Brisbane's Gabba, a stadium where the English haven't triumphed for decades

English cricketers have often become easy prey at this challenging venue

The Inspirational Achievement

Within recent memory of English disappointments, hopes and athletes exists a motivational tale achieved by a cricket hero

It is exactly the 15th anniversary of Sir Alastair Cook conquered the Gabba with a career-defining 235 without loss, saving the first Test from the 2010-11 series and setting England on course to their only Ashes series win on Australian soil over nearly four decades

Unforgettable Series

It was the beginning of his successful tour of Australia; three hundred-plus scores accumulating 766 runs

Cricket great Hammond is the only Englishman who has made more runs throughout a campaign in this country

The English triumphed 3-1, with all victories via comprehensive wins

The team hasn't secured a Test here since that memorable series

Personal Reflections

"You forget the challenging periods, the apprehension and concern that went into that," the cricketer reflects

"I look back with pride. I made an important impact in a tournament that saw England triumphed 3-1 down under where each victory came through innings wins"

Journey to Excellence

The path to down under success began 18 months earlier following the 2009 series in England

England won, the opener had an average below 25 with just one score over fifty

He sought improvement

"Cricket is a team game, personal performance generates the feeling that you must contribute adequately," he notes

Technical Transformation

Two days after the triumphant events, he was back at work practicing numerous of balls in the nets with Graham Gooch

The initial results were encouraging

Cook made three hundreds on the 2009-10 winter tours in South Africa and Bangladesh

Pivotal Instances

Upon his return to home soil during the 2010 season, the left-hander struggled significantly

In eight innings against Bangladesh and Pakistan, his highest score totaled just 29 runs

Without runs after the second day's play in the third match versus Pakistan at the famous ground, Cook believed it might be his last Test innings prior to selection

"There I was in the hospitality area, attempting to discover the solution through drinking," he reveals

Critical Moment

The 110-run innings secured his place for the Australian tour

The team maintained preparations by winning two and drawing one in practice matches on Australian soil

As the opening match began in Brisbane, they encountered three wickets from Siddle

Historic Partnership

An hour before the third day's close, both batsmen started the English reply needing to overcome 221 runs

The score stood at 19-0 by day's end then continued with an exhibition engraved in cricket memory

"My memory doesn't retain specific guidance, our discussions," says Cook

The left-handers contributed 188 for the first wicket

His unbeaten 235 was the highest score achieved by a Briton on Australian soil in eight decades

Series Dominance

The English took advantage of a remarkable opening session during the following Test in Adelaide

Following Anderson's additional wicket the opposition player, Australia were 2-3 and couldn't recover

Cook followed up his Queensland achievement through a 148-run innings during a memorable Test highlighting Pietersen's dominance over the Australian bowling

Series Conclusion

England could have retained the Ashes in Perth, however Johnson to preview the destruction he would cause four years later

Then came perhaps England's single greatest day during Ashes competition down under

At the MCG, the 100,000-seater cathedral of Australian cricket, on the holiday, the hosts were dismissed for 98

"For ideal Boxing Days, that defined it. There was disbelief when play concluded," says Cook

Ultimate Success

Driven by determination to claim victory, Cook excelled once more in Sydney

His 189 lifted England to 644, their best score during Australian Tests

The question was not whether England would triumph the game and series, rather when

"The atmosphere was incredible," says Cook

"Following Tremlett's wicket of the final batsman to claim triumph, that was a time of absolute joy"

Historical Significance

Cook was player of the series

The subsequent seven years of his Test career were illuminated by other milestones

Following his international retirement, he was honored for cricket contributions

"{I couldn't have played any better|