Ponting (centre) spent a day sailing in Melbourne

We asked Test Match Special messageboard users to suggest some questions for the Australia captain, before he rejoined the side to lead them to victory over South Africa.

against_all_odds: Do you agree with the rotation policy?

RP: I think it's important.

With the amount of cricket we're playing now it's really difficult to bring yourself up to be 100% physically and mentally for every game we play.

Players start making bad mental errors and their judgement is not as good as it probably could be

In our game, one little mistake [batting] and that's the end for you.

Magumboots: Who's the toughest opposition skipper you've faced in your term as Australia captain?

RP: I don't like to comment too much on opposition captains because you don't really know much about what's going on.

Most of the captaincy is done off the field, behind the scenes so it's always hard to make judgements.

dipierdomenico: How are you dealing with your ambitions to brand the team with your own distinct outlook? How will a Pontingesque outfit differ from that of Steve Waugh?

RP: Once I took over the captaincy I wanted it to be a seamless and un-noticeable changeover.

We continued to play the same sort of cricket as we had been playing.

You're always going to put a different stamp on things because you're a different personality.

It's worked out pretty well so far.

shinyilovecricket: How important will [bowling coach] Troy Cooley be for the Aussie team? You are both from Tasmania - do you know him well?

RP: I think he'll be great for us.

I have a great relationship with him. I've grown up with Troy, learning the game from guys like him at my cricket club [Launceston in Tasmania].

Ponting expects more from McGrath

He's obviously got things sorted out very well as far as his coaching goes and I know some of our fast bowlers are looking forward to working with him so he'll be a great inclusion to our set-up.

the_left_arm_quickie: What are you thoughts are on the super-sub and powerplay rules in one-day internationals?

RP: I think they're going OK - they could both be better.

The super-sub should be named after the toss - that would make it a lot more beneficial.

At the moment sometimes if that person's not an all-rounder you're really relying on the toss.

The other night in Perth we had Brett Dorey as our 12th man, lost the toss and bowled first.

He goes out of the game basically and you're playing 11 against 12.

It would be better if you give both captains the opportunity to use one of those powerplays.

At the moment the batting team has no say - it's just when the bowling team wants to use it.

There are certain ways that you can manipulate the system. When there are bonus points up for grabs as well you can use them in different ways there

We've used it in a couple of different ways but generally you try to get them out of the way as soon as you can.

I don't think there's anything lost by going back to that way [it was before the rules].

The reason powerplays were brought in was because everyone thought the game was a bit boring between overs 15 and 40.

The powerplays aren't even being used through there at the moment so that doesn't really make much sense.

We'll keep trying and making the best of it but I'd like to see for the World Cup, going back to 11 against 11.