Pietersen was on 105 not out as England, needing a draw to win the Ashes for the first time since 1986-87, reached tea on 221 for seven on the final day.
Essex piled up 502 for four after winning the toss on the first day of their two-day match against Australia
Australia have called uncapped fast bowler Stuart Clark into their squad for the third Ashes Test
Australia were 351 for 3, 56 runs ahead of Bangladesh, at close on day 2 of the second Test.
They have also recalled spinner Brad Hogg, paceman Jason Gillespie and opening batsman Matthew Hayden.
Gray, who is an Australian national, said Australia's players had a bad reputation in the cricket community after years of on-field rows and accusations of sledging.
New Zealand slumped to 11 for two in their second innings, trailing Australia by 80 runs, at the close of play on the third day of the third and final Test.
Ponting's 105 off 110 balls put Australia just 73 runs behind New Zealand in the first innings on day 2 in the third Test.
Sanath Jayasuriya and Marvan Atapattu made centuries in a record opening stand as Sri Lanka smashed 343 for five in their one-day international match against Australia on Thursday.\n\n
Australia took an overall lead of 381 after bowling New Zealand out for 251 in their first innings on day three of the second Test.
The Indian pacer took 3 wickets for 41 runs in the County Championship Division One match against Gloucestershire.
Sri Lanka's opening batsman challenged Australia's bowlers to adopt short-pitched bowling in the second Test.
Himself known for his delightful cover drivers, Bell thinks Virat Kohli plays his favourite shot the best among his peers.
Bichel is a top class performer in a top class team, the Windies captain said.
Glenn McGrath, Adam Gilchrist and Brett Lee have been left out of a 12-man Australian squad to play South Africa in a one-off Twenty20 international next week.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan rated Australia's World Cup triumph as the best in the tournament's history after they upstaged a rampaging India in front of a vociferous crowd.
Australia beat New Zealand by nine wickets to win the third and final Test with a day to spare.
This period saw big stars of the likes of Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev fade into the sunset while it was witness to the birth of slew of young Indian cricketers that made their mark home and abroad.
'Shaun Tait, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee and Jason Gillespie were fast. But Shoaib Akhtar was the fastest.'
Ahead of the blockbuster final in Ahmedabad, a look at how the 2003 World Cup played out between India and Australia.
The cricketer-turned-commentator Shane Warne knows how to live life to the fullest.
When he had Jonny Bairstow (5) caught behind on the second day of the third Test at Edgbaston, the 33-year-old reached the milestone, in what is his 69th Test.
Former Australia pacer Michael Kasprowicz criticised the pace bowlers, led by Mitchell Starc, for not bowling enough bouncers and toe-crushers.
