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Langer backs Ponting as Tasmania coach

Getting former Test and ODI skipper involved a "no-brainer" for Tasmania, according to his former teammate

Justin Langer says Ricky Ponting would be the perfect fit to coach Tasmania and he's been doing his best to talk his former Australian teammate into taking the role.

The Tigers are on the lookout for a new coach after axing Dan Marsh with a year to run on his contract.

Tasmanian cricket is also in need of a new KFC Big Bash League coach after deciding not to renew Damien Wright's contract with the Hobart Hurricanes, with Ponting charged with leading a review into the BBL franchise.

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Ponting initially ruled himself out of taking up a role in his home state and in an interview with cricket.com.au last week, he nominated fellow Tasmanian and former Australia assistant coach Michael Di Venuto as an obvious candidate to replace Marsh.

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But Langer has been doing his best to change Ponting's tune with some frank discussions during the pair's recent coaching stint together with Australia's Twenty20 side.

Langer said it would be a "no brainer" for Tasmania to try to recruit Ponting as their coach, but the fact Ponting lives in Melbourne and has other commitments could make it tricky.

"I think he'd love to (do it)," Langer said of the former Test captain.

"He’s got an incredible thirst for the game of cricket and he’s got unbelievable knowledge and he loves coaching. My view is that he gets into it.

"But he’s also got other commitments ... (so) he’d have to weigh up if it worked out financially for him. All I know is he ticks every box to be a great coach.

"He and I have been great mates for so long, so we’ve talked a lot about it the last week.

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"To me he’s a natural coach, but only he can answer whether he wants to do it.

"But that’s what I said to him, (that) it’s so fulfilling, it’s such a great project. And Tassie at the moment would be a great project.

"He also lives in Melbourne. I know Tassie is home for him (but) he’d have a lot of things to work through.

"However, (if) Tasmanian cricket can get Ricky Ponting involved, it’s a no-brainer."

Langer also said his assistant at WA, former Tigers paceman Adam Griffith, would be ready to step up into a head coaching role.

"He’s very well prepared," Langer said of Griffith. "If we lost him it’d be a big loss.

"You don’t know if you’re ready until you do it. He ticks a lot of boxes, but it’s not until you get into the cauldron (that you know if you’re ready).

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"When you’re an assistant coach, it’s the best job in the world. You’re everyone’s best mate, you’ve got not much accountability and you don’t work that much.

"When you become head coach, no one likes you. You’ve got 100 per cent accountability and you work long hours.

"Until you get into the cauldron and you start doing it, you don’t know if you’re ready. But he certainly ticks enough boxes to be ready.

Tasmania are currently bottom of the Shield table with just one win from seven games and will be aiming to get out of their rut when they take on second-placed NSW in Wollongong, starting on Saturday.

Langer has helped mastermind a big turnaround for the Warriors this season, with three consecutive Shield wins catapulting WA back into the finals mix.

The Warriors are fifth, just four points adrift of second spot, but their finals hopes will be put to the test in their clash with runaway leaders Victoria at the WACA Ground, starting Saturday.

Third-placed South Australia and fourth-placed Queensland will also be aiming to keep in touch with the top two when they square off at Adelaide Oval, starting Saturday.