Remembering 766 - Cook's Dominance of Australia

Brisbane hasn't been a place that offers the Three Lions crucial confidence in the series

In the wake of losing to Australia in the first Test, the visiting team must stir themselves before heading to Brisbane's Gabba, a ground where victory has eluded England for over thirty years

Men wearing three lions have habitually been easy prey at the Gabbatoir

Cook's Memorable Triumph

Among a recent history of dashed English dreams, dreams and bodies is a source of inspiration provided by a shining knight

Today commemorates 15 years since the legendary Cook dominated in Brisbane with a career-defining unbeaten 235, preserving the initial Test during that famous series paving England's path toward their sole series victory in Australia over nearly four decades

Unforgettable Series

This marked the start of the victorious Australian campaign; three centuries accumulating 766 runs

Wally Hammond remains the sole English player who has made more runs in a series in this country

Victory came 3-1, with all victories through innings victories

England hasn't achieved a Test victory there since that historic campaign

Cook's Memories

"You forget the tough times, the nervousness and anxiety involved in that achievement," Cook remembers

"I reflect proudly. I made an important impact in a series when England triumphed 3-1 on Australian soil with every match came through innings wins"

The Road to Greatness

Cook's road to his Australian epic began 18 months earlier at the end of the 2009 Ashes in the UK

Despite English victory, the opening batsman had an average below 25 with just one score exceeding half-century

He sought improvement

"Cricket is a team game, personal performance creates the sensation that personal responsibility matters," he notes

Skill Development

Shortly after the celebrations, he returned practicing numerous bowls during training with Graham Gooch

Beginning performances were encouraging

Cook made three centuries during winter tours to South Africa and Bangladesh

Career-Defining Moments

When Cook returned to British conditions for that year's summer, Cook performed poorly

In eight innings facing these opponents, his best performance reached only 29

On nought not out at the end of the second day of the third Test facing Pakistan in London, the batsman felt certain it might be his last Test innings prior to selection

"I was sitting in the bar, trying to find the resolution by drowning sorrows," he confesses

Decisive Instance

His century guaranteed his seat for the Australian tour

England continued their preparations through successful warm-ups of their warm-up games down under

Come the first Test at the famous ground, they faced a Siddle hat-trick

Memorable Collaboration

An hour before the third day's close, the opening pair opened England's second innings trailing by 221 runs

They reached 19-0 by day's end then continued through a demonstration etched in Ashes folklore

"My memory doesn't retain specific guidance, our conversations," recalls Cook

The opening pair accumulated 188 runs together

Cook's 235 not out represented the top score by an Englishman on Australian soil since the 1930s

Total Command

The English took advantage of an astonishing first morning in the second match in Adelaide

After Anderson also dismissed the opposition player, the hosts stood at 2-3 and never recovered

The batsman proceeded his Brisbane heroics by scoring 148 in a famous match featuring Pietersen's destruction of the Australian bowling

Series Conclusion

England could have retained the Ashes in Perth, only for Mitchell Johnson to indicate the trouble from future encounters

The subsequent events included arguably England's best performance during Ashes competition on Australian soil

At the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the 100,000-seater cathedral of Australian cricket, during Boxing Day, the Australian team were blown away for 98

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

Ultimate Success

Fuelled by the focus to secure the Ashes, Cook was at it again in Sydney

His 189 helped England reach 644, their record innings during Australian Tests

The debate didn't concern if England would win the match and the Ashes, rather when

"The feeling was unbelievable," Cook remembers

"After Tremlett dismissed Michael Beer to secure victory, it represented an instant of absolute joy"

Legacy and Recognition

He earned series honors

The subsequent seven years of his Test career included further accomplishments

After retiring internationally, Cook was knighted for services to cricket

"{I couldn't have played any better|