Ricky Ponting said he did his best to encourage his out-of-form skipper Steve Waugh during the pair's unbroken 65-run partnership in the final session at Sharjah.

Ponting, who reached stumps on 142 not out on day one of the final Test against Pakistan, is in supreme form at present.

Waugh, however, is going through a rusty patch and would dearly love to have a big score under his belt by the time the Ashes start early next month.

Ponting told reporters: "I was just trying to be as positive as I could for him.

"I was just giving him advice, saying 'Watch the ball, play nice and straight' and 'good shot' when he hit a good shot."

Waugh appeared to take note of the younger man's words of wisdom, ending the day unbeaten on 33.

He fared better than twin Mark, who is also short of his best form and made just 23.

Ponting added that he was disappointed to miss out on a double-century in the first Test of the series in Colombo and would do his utmost to remedy that failure on Sunday.

"It was very good batting conditions today," he said.

"It wasn't as hot as in the last game and as the day went on the wicket flattened out a bit more and it got easier and easier for the batters.

"I think it will turn a lot. It's very, very dry with no pace for the fast bowlers."

Ponting added that he expected Shane Warne to do 'a lot of bowling for us' and felt that Pakistan had missed the injured Shoaib Akhtar.

"The other guys lack a little bit of the pace that he has," he said.