Ricky Ponting does not expect Andrew Symonds to be a model citizen, and has asked the all-rounder to be himself.

Symonds is making a comeback to the national side, after being dropped from the squad because of his "gone-fishing" saga in Darwin in August this year.

"I don't expect him to be the model citizen when he comes back into the side, I expect him to be the Andrew Symonds of old," Ponting was quoted as saying in a radio channel here.

"That's what we all love about him. We all love his personality and the way he is around the team. I love the way he goes about his cricket on the field as well," he added.

Ponting, however, said that there would be media pressure on Symonds for the first couple of days but exuded confidence that Symonds would live upto the expectation and add that X-factor to the team.

"I think he has to know and understand that there's going to be a lot of attention on him in the first couple of games he plays, and I'll make that pretty clear to him this afternoon.

"I know that he's on edge a little bit the last few days, wanting to know if he's back in the side or not, and now that he's been named I'm sure that will be a load of his shoulders and he can slot back into the side and be that performer we all want him to be." "He does add a lot to your team - he adds that X-factor, he adds that great presence in the field. Having that sort of cricketer in the line-up, so far as balance goes, is excellent," he said.

Symonds was recalled in the team yesterday by chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch and later Ponting also gave him a thumbs up, putting an end to his torrid six-months period during which he was out of the national team and even considered quitting. "I've got to admit I've been quite anxious about selection, and probably wouldn't have slept tonight if I didn't find out today," Symonds was quoted saying in a media report today.

"When 'Digger' [Hilditch] came into the rooms after training and told me I was playing, I think my first feeling was relief and then happiness. I can't wait to put on the whites and the baggy green and walk on to the field with the boys again. It's something I've missed.

"I never really had any definite timelines for getting back into the team. I was just happy to be back around the boys and to have that chance to play cricket for Australia again," Symonds said.