The legendary impressive 766 from an English player during an Ashes series ranks second only to Wally Hammond
Brisbane is not a location providing England crucial hope for the Ashes
Following the loss to Australia during the opening match, the visiting team must stir themselves before heading to Brisbane's Gabba, a stadium where victory has eluded England for over thirty years
English cricketers have frequently been easy prey at the Gabbatoir
Among a recent history of English disappointments, aspirations and players lies an inspirational story delivered by a shining knight
Today commemorates a decade and a half after the legendary Cook dominated in Brisbane with a career-defining unbeaten 235, saving the first Test from the 2010-11 series establishing England's trajectory toward their sole series victory in Australia over nearly four decades
It was the beginning of his successful circumnavigation of Australia; three hundred-plus scores accumulating 766 runs
Cricket great Hammond stands as the only Briton with higher run totals in a series on Australian soil
England won 3-1, where each success via comprehensive wins
England hasn't achieved a Test here since that historic campaign
"One tends to forget the tough times, the nervousness and anxiety involved in that achievement," Cook recalls
"I reflect proudly. I played a significant part in a tournament that saw England won 3-1 in Australia where each victory was achieved comprehensively"
Cook's road to his Australian epic began 18 months earlier following the 2009 series in England
Though England triumphed, the opener averaged less than 25 managing only one innings over fifty
He desired better
"Cricket is a team game, personal performance generates the feeling that you must contribute adequately," he explains
Just 48 hours following the victory celebrations, he was back hitting hundreds and hundreds bowls during training with Graham Gooch
Early outcomes showed promise
He scored three centuries during winter tours in South Africa and Bangladesh
After coming back to England during the 2010 season, the batsman performed poorly
Across eight appearances versus Bangladesh and Pakistan, his top innings was 29
Scoreless overnight after the second day in the third match against Pakistan at the famous ground, Cook believed it might be his final Test performance ahead of potential omission
"I was sitting in the hospitality area, seeking the solution in the bottom of a beer bottle," he confesses
His century guaranteed his seat on the plane to Australia
The team maintained preparations through successful warm-ups of their warm-up games down under
As the opening match began at the famous ground, they were hit by Peter Siddle's hat-trick
Just before the end of the third day, the opening pair started the English reply trailing by 221 runs
They achieved 19 without loss when play concluded then continued through a demonstration remembered in Ashes history
"I cannot recall any instructions, our conversations," Cook remembers
Both left-handed batsmen added 188 in their partnership
Cook's 235 not out represented the top score from an English player down under for 82 years
The English took advantage of a remarkable opening session in the second match at Adelaide
Following Anderson's additional wicket the opposition player, the hosts stood at 2-3 and struggled throughout
He continued his Brisbane heroics with 148 in a Test remembered for Kevin Pietersen dismantling the Australian bowling
Victory was possible the series in Western Australia, but Mitchell Johnson to preview the destruction from future encounters
Then came perhaps England's single greatest day in Ashes history down under
At the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the enormous ground of Australian cricket, and on Boxing Day, the home side collapsed to 98 all out
"If perfection existed for Boxing Day, it was that. There was disbelief as the day ended," Cook remembers
Fuelled by the focus to claim victory, the batsman performed brilliantly at the SCG
His score of 189 lifted England to 644, their record innings on Australian soil
The question was not if England would win both match and urn, but the timing
"The feeling was unbelievable," says Cook
"When Tremlett got the final batsman to secure victory, that was a time of complete happiness"
The batsman received top accolades
The remaining seven years of his Test career included other milestones
Post-cricket career, Cook was knighted for cricket contributions
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