Ponting sounds Ashes ticket call

Ricky Ponting has urged Australian supporters to provide a "sea of green and gold" for the summer's Ashes series. Tickets for the 2006-07 international matches go on sale to the Australian Cricket Family on Thursday morning and Cricket Australia is determined that the grounds will not be over-run by England supporters.

"The Australian team can't wait for this Ashes series to start and having a sea of green and gold supporters in the stand will give us a massive boost," Ponting said. "Make sure you get in early on June 1 and we'll see you during the biggest summer of Australian cricket."

The 128,500 members who registered on the organistation's website can buy tickets from 9am eastern standard time on Thursday until June 15. Seats will go on general release for overseas supporters and those not in the "family" on June 19. Cricket Australia has predicted all Test grounds will be sold out for the first day and there are hopes of a world-record crowd for Boxing Day at the MCG.

A Cricket Australia spokesman said family members must be Australian residents and provide an Australian postal address to buy tickets. "If these conditions are not met, tickets shall be cancelled," he said. The first Test starts at Brisbane on November 23.