The Legend of 766 - Cook's Triumph in the Australian Team

The Queensland capital isn't a location providing the Three Lions badly required Ashes optimism

In the wake of losing to the hosts at the series start, the visiting team must stir themselves before heading to Brisbane's Gabba, a stadium where England have not won since 1986

Players representing England have habitually been easy prey in Brisbane

The Inspirational Success

Throughout modern times of dashed English dreams, hopes and athletes lies an inspirational story achieved by a cricket hero

This marks a decade and a half after the legendary Cook mastered the Gabba through a defining unbeaten 235, rescuing the opening match of 2010-11 establishing England's trajectory toward their sole series victory down under over nearly four decades

Record-Breaking Performance

It commenced of his successful tour of Australia; three centuries accumulating 766 runs

The legendary Hammond remains the sole English player with higher run totals in a series on Australian soil

Victory came 3-1, with all victories via comprehensive wins

England hasn't achieved a Test victory there since those glory days

Looking Back

"One tends to forget the challenging periods, the nervousness and anxiety that went into that," the cricketer reflects

"I look back with pride. I played a significant part in a series when England triumphed 3-1 down under where each victory were won by an innings"

Path to Success

His journey to down under success began 18 months earlier at the end of that year's Ashes in the UK

Despite English victory, the opening batsman scored under 25 per innings managing only one innings above 50

He wanted more

"Despite cricket's collective nature, the individuality creates the sensation like you want to pull your weight," he notes

Skill Development

Just 48 hours following the triumphant events, he was back practicing numerous deliveries in practice alongside Graham Gooch

Beginning performances showed promise

He scored three hundred-run innings on overseas campaigns against South African and Bangladeshi teams

Pivotal Instances

After coming back to England during the 2010 season, the left-hander had a "stinker"

Across eight appearances facing these opponents, his top innings reached only 29

Without runs following the second day of the third Test against Pakistan at the famous ground, Cook was convinced this would be his concluding international appearance before being dropped

"There I was in the bar, seeking the resolution in the bottom of a beer bottle," he reveals

The Turning Point

Cook's 110 secured his place for the Australian tour

England continued their preparations by winning two and drawing one of their warm-up games on Australian soil

When the first Test arrived at the Gabba, they faced Peter Siddle's hat-trick

Memorable Collaboration

Shortly prior to the end of the third day, Cook and Strauss began England's second batting effort with a deficit of 221 runs

They achieved 19 without loss when play concluded then continued with a performance engraved in cricket memory

"I don't remember the messages, our conversations," recalls Cook

Both left-handed batsmen added 188 in their partnership

His unbeaten 235 was the highest score by an Englishman down under for 82 years

Complete Control

The English took advantage of an astonishing first morning during the following Test in South Australia

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

Cook followed up his Brisbane success through a 148-run innings in a famous match highlighting Pietersen's dominance over the Australian bowling

The Final Triumph

Victory was possible the urn in Perth, but Mitchell Johnson to preview the destruction he would cause four years later

Then came possibly England's finest day of Ashes cricket down under

At the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the massive stadium of sports down under, and on Boxing Day, the Australian team were dismissed for 98

"For ideal Boxing Days, this was it. Amazement prevailed as the day ended," recalls Cook

Series Conclusion

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

His score of 189 contributed to England's 644, their highest total in a Test in Australia

The debate didn't concern if victory would come both match and urn, rather when

"The environment was electric," says Cook

"When Tremlett got the final batsman to secure victory, that was a time of pure elation"

Historical Significance

The batsman received top accolades

The following seven seasons of his Test career were illuminated by further accomplishments

After retiring internationally, he received a knighthood for cricket contributions

"{I couldn't have played any better|