Alastair Cook's impressive 766 by an Englishman in Australian conditions ranks second only to Wally Hammond
Brisbane is not a location providing the Three Lions some much-needed hope for the Ashes
In the wake of losing to Australia during the opening match, the visiting team must stir themselves ahead of visiting the Gabba, a venue where victory has eluded England since 1986
Players representing England have frequently been easy prey at the Gabbatoir
Among a recent history of broken English hopes, dreams and bodies exists a motivational tale achieved by a shining knight
It is exactly a decade and a half after the legendary Cook mastered the Gabba via a landmark unbeaten 235, saving the first Test of 2010-11 paving England's path for their unique Ashes triumph down under over nearly four decades
It commenced of the victorious tour of Australia; three hundreds accumulating 766 runs
Cricket great Hammond stands as the only Briton with higher run totals in a series on Australian soil
The English triumphed 3-1, with all victories through innings victories
They have not won success at this venue since those glory days
"One tends to forget the challenging periods, the apprehension and concern that went into that," Cook remembers
"I reflect proudly. I played a significant part in a series when the English secured a 3-1 victory in Australia where each victory were won by an innings"
The path to down under success began 18 months earlier after that year's Ashes in the UK
Though England triumphed, the opener averaged less than 25 achieving merely one performance above 50
He wanted more
"While cricket involves teamwork, individual contribution creates the sensation that personal responsibility matters," he states
Shortly after the celebrations, he returned practicing numerous of balls in the nets alongside Graham Gooch
Early outcomes showed promise
He scored three hundred-run innings on overseas campaigns to South Africa and Bangladesh
Upon his return to home soil for that year's summer, the batsman struggled significantly
During eight batting opportunities versus Bangladesh and Pakistan, his best performance was 29
Without runs following the second day's play in the third match versus Pakistan in London, Cook believed he was playing his last Test innings before being dropped
"There I was in the hospitality area, seeking the solution by drowning sorrows," he admits
The 110-run innings ensured his position on the plane to Australia
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 Peter Siddle's hat-trick
Shortly prior to the third day's close, Cook and Strauss started the English reply needing to overcome 221 runs
They achieved 19 without loss by day's end then continued through a demonstration remembered in Ashes history
"My memory doesn't retain the messages, our conversations," says Cook
Both left-handed batsmen accumulated 188 runs for the first wicket
Cook's 235 not out stood as the best performance achieved by a Briton down under for 82 years
England exploited an incredible start during the following Test at Adelaide
After Anderson also dismissed Michael Clarke, the score read 2-3 and couldn't recover
Cook followed up his Queensland achievement through a 148-run innings in a Test remembered featuring Pietersen's destruction of the Australian bowling
Victory was possible the urn in Perth, however Johnson to indicate the trouble from future encounters
The subsequent events included possibly England's finest day of Ashes cricket down under
At the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the 100,000-seater cathedral of sports down under, during Boxing Day, the home side were blown away for 98
"If perfection existed for Boxing Day, this was it. There was disbelief as the day ended," recalls Cook
Motivated by purpose to win the urn, Cook excelled once more in Sydney
His 189 lifted England to 644, their highest total on Australian soil
The debate didn't concern whether England would triumph both match and urn, but the timing
"The feeling was unbelievable," says Cook
"After Tremlett dismissed the last player to secure victory, that was a time of pure elation"
The batsman received top accolades
The following seven seasons of his Test career featured other milestones
After retiring internationally, Cook was knighted for services to cricket
"{I couldn't have played any better|
