After his Downfall at Numenor he wasn't able to shift shapes anymore, so he had to stay in the form he chose when he returned to his main fortress, Barad-dur.
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There he took up again his Great ring in Barad-dur, and dwelt there, dark and silent, until he wrought himself a new guise, an image of malice and hatred made visible; and the Eye of Sauron the Terrible few could endure.
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Yet later, in the Last Alliance, Sauron comes forth to fight Elendil and Gil-Galad. He falls and the Ring is cut from his hand.
This is his form as he is in the third age as well, for it was his last form. He could not take another.
Now...
Sauron and the Istari were all Maiar. Yet Sauron became the greatest servant of Melkor. After Earendil had sailed into the West and the Host of the West had put things to right in Beleriand, Sauron quailed, but arose again. Afterwards came the Ring-making, but the Elves knew his plan and hid the Ring. Sauron was taken to Numenor, but there he came to rule the whole land from behind the throne for the King was eager for his counsels. He dies once again at the Last Alliance, and afterwards takes the same form in Dol Guldur. he is driven out of there by the White Council, but Barad-dur was already made ready for him.
Sauron is Maiar. Too powerful to be stopped in the Third Age. Therefore the Ainur, Valar and Maiar of Aman, held council and decided to form a group to be sent to Middle-earth to fight Sauron. Yet they had to leave a great deal of their power, and they were not to use thier powers openly. They had to raise to Good People of Middle-earth and tell them to fight against them. Those Maiar were the Istari.
So... quite the opposite of Sauron. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]
Hope this helps,
greetings,
lathspell