766 and All That - Cook's Dominance of Australia

Brisbane hasn't been a city to give the English team some much-needed hope for the Ashes

After defeat by the Australian side at the series start, the visiting team must stir themselves before heading to the famous Gabba, a stadium where the English haven't triumphed for decades

Players representing England have habitually been lambs to the slaughter at this challenging venue

Cook's Memorable Triumph

Throughout modern times of broken English hopes, hopes and athletes lies an inspirational story achieved by an exceptional player

Today commemorates the 15th anniversary of the legendary Cook dominated in Brisbane via a landmark unbeaten 235, saving the first Test during that famous series establishing England's trajectory toward their sole series victory on Australian soil in the past 38 years

Historic Achievement

This marked the start of the victorious circumnavigation of Australia; three centuries totaling 766 runs

Cricket great Hammond stands as the only Briton with higher run totals during a Test series down under

England won 3-1, where each success by an innings

They have not won a Test here since that memorable series

Cook's Memories

"You forget the difficult moments, the apprehension and concern accompanying that success," Cook recalls

"With pride I remember. I made an important impact in a series when England triumphed 3-1 in Australia with every match were won by an innings"

Path to Success

Cook's road toward Australian glory began 18 months earlier following the 2009 series on home soil

England won, the opener scored under 25 per innings achieving merely one performance exceeding half-century

He wanted more

"Despite cricket's collective nature, the individuality does make you feel like you want to pull your weight," he states

Game Improvement

Just 48 hours following the celebrations, he was back hitting hundreds and hundreds bowls during training with Graham Gooch

Beginning performances proved positive

The batsman achieved three hundred-run innings on overseas campaigns to South Africa and Bangladesh

Career-Defining Moments

Upon his return to England for that year's summer, Cook had a "stinker"

In eight innings facing these opponents, his top innings was 29

On nought not out at the end of the second day's play during the final Test against Pakistan at the famous ground, Cook was convinced he was playing his last Test innings ahead of potential omission

"I was sitting in the bar, trying to find the solution in the bottom of a beer bottle," he confesses

Critical Moment

His century guaranteed his seat for the Australian tour

Preparation continued by winning two and drawing one in practice matches in Australia

As the opening match began at the Gabba, they were hit by three wickets from Siddle

Historic Partnership

Shortly prior to the end of the third day, Cook and Strauss started the English reply trailing by 221 runs

The score stood at 19-0 at stumps and proceeded with an exhibition engraved in cricket memory

"I cannot recall any instructions, our discussions," says Cook

Both left-handed batsmen added 188 for the first wicket

Cook's 235 not out represented the top score achieved by a Briton on Australian soil in eight decades

Series Dominance

England capitalised on a remarkable opening session during the following Test in South Australia

After Anderson also dismissed the Australian batsman, Australia were 2-3 and never recovered

Cook followed up his Brisbane heroics with 148 in a famous match highlighting Pietersen's dominance over the Australian bowling

Series Conclusion

England could have retained the series in Western Australia, but Mitchell Johnson to foreshadow the havoc that would come later

What followed was perhaps England's single greatest day of Ashes cricket on Australian soil

At the MCG, the massive stadium of Australian sport, and on Boxing Day, the hosts collapsed to 98 all out

"If perfection existed for Boxing Day, it was that. There was disbelief when play concluded," recalls Cook

Series Conclusion

Driven by determination to win the urn, Cook was at it again at the SCG

The 189-run innings helped England reach 644, their highest total on Australian soil

The question was not whether England would triumph both match and urn, rather when

"The atmosphere was incredible," recalls Cook

"When Tremlett got Michael Beer to win the match, it was a moment of complete happiness"

Enduring Impact

Cook was player of the series

The following seven seasons of his cricket journey were illuminated by other milestones

After retiring internationally, Cook was knighted for sporting achievements

"{I couldn't have played any better|