Ponting sees merits in Buchanan's multiple-captain idea

John Buchanan's multiple-captain idea may have ruffled the feathers in India but Australia skipper Ricky Ponting feels the suggestion has "some merit".

Ponting said Buchanan's move to have multiple captains at the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) would take some pressure off regular skipper Sourav Ganguly and the move might actually work.

"I heard the other day he was actually talking about having a couple of captains on the ground at once. I don't know how that's going to work," Ponting, a KKR player himself, told the Australian Associated Press.

"But I know Tassie (Tasmania) actually experimented with that a few years ago. They had Dan Marsh and George Bailey. One was doing the field placings and one was doing the bowling changes.

"So it just sort of lightened the load up I guess on the actual captain on the field and gave him a bit more opportunity to think about different things. I don't see there's a lot of problems with it," said Ponting who has decided to skip this second edition of the Indian Premier League starting April 18 in South Africa.

Buchanan's idea did not amuse Ganguly and even former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar ridiculed the Australian, calling it a 'mockery of the game'.

Ponting, however, begged to differ and said exchange of ideas among senior players would only help the captain.

"The more experience you can get into a lot of guys as far as leadership goes can only benefit your group," he said.

"But it seems like it's a bit more of a sensitive situation at the moment with Sourav (Ganguly) being captain and maybe not wanting to give up that actual role, which you can understand as well.

"I think there is some merit in it. We'll see how it works at the end of this IPL," said the Australian skipper.

Buchanan's suggestion triggered a backlash and the Australian later said he was looking for a few core experts to assist the regular skipper on the field.