Watch: Ricky Ponting explains batting nuances of ball reading via seam positioning

During the gripping first Test between Australia and Pakistan, former Australia captain Ricky Ponting, gracing the commentary panel, unfolded a masterclass in understanding a batter's perspective when facing top-tier bowlers. With Waqar Younis by his side, Ponting visually elucidated how batters decipher a delivery's intentions.

In a captivating demonstration, Ponting held a cricket ball, elucidating how a batter gauges a ball's trajectory based on the seam position. He delved into the art of discerning between an inswinger and an outswinger, highlighting the pivotal role of the seam's orientation. Additionally, Ponting emphasized how the ball's flight path, determined by the seam's positioning, crucially influences whether it veers towards the first or second slip.

“The Visual cues that a batsman is looking at. So when you load up at the top of your bowling action, you would generally see the seam like that. If you are going to bowl an outswinger to a right-hander, the seam would be pointed towards second or third slip. And the batsman picks that up and sees that, and he actually knows that then this is probably going to be an outswinger and you can react the straighter one,” Ponting explained.

The straighter one, if it was going to be a straighter one or an attempted off-cutter, the seam would be a little bit straighter, angled more in towards where fine leg would be, and it would seam back in off the wicket,” he added.

Here's the video of Ponting's batting masterclass:

Australia maul Pakistan by a massive 360 runs in Perth

In a dominant display, Australia secured a commanding 360-run victory over Pakistan in the series opener at Perth Stadium. The tourists faced a catastrophic collapse, managing only 89 runs – marking their fifth-lowest total against Australia in Tests. Nathan Lyon, the seasoned off-spinner, reached a milestone with his 500th Test wicket, contributing to Pakistan's swift downfall.

On the fourth day, Australia swiftly dismantled Pakistan in just 30.2 overs, seizing a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Pakistan's batting woes were evident as Saud Shakeel emerged as the lone player to surpass 15 runs amidst a dismal performance. This defeat stands as Pakistan's third-most substantial loss to Australia in terms of runs. The Pakistani team's struggle in Australia continues, marking their 15th consecutive Test defeat on Australian soil since their last triumph in November 1995.