Ponting calls for full house on Boxing Day

Melbourne, Dec 24 (UNI) Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting has urged his countrymen to come out in full support of his team for the Boxing Day Test against India here.

''A crowd of about 80,000 or 90,000 would make it really special for the players,'' he said.

''It was really special last year against England and to have a crowd like that again would be fantastic.'' Ticket sales have been strong and authorities expect at least 75,000 fans on the first day.

''The Boxing Day Test always has a large walk-up crowd on the opening day as people tend to look out the window, check the weather and, if it's good, then they go to the cricket,'' spokesman for Cricket Australia, Peter Young said yesterday.

''India is only second behind England in terms of pulling crowds to the cricket when they play Australia,'' he added.

''It is the biggest series we have other than an Ashes tour. It is a real celebration of cricket and we expect the crowd to be in a great mood as they always are at the Boxing Day Test.'' Perfect weather is forecast for the start of play -- fine and sunny with a maximum temperature of 26 degrees Celesius.

UNI