Massive task for new-look Aussies: Gilchrist

Legendary keeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist believes the current Australia side will face "an awful lot of challenges" as it attempts to rebuild in the wake of the ball-tampering scandal in March.

Australia play their first international of the Justin Langer era tonight against England at The Oval in London, and the fifth-ranked ODI team go into the match against the hosts and world's No.1 50-over side as rank underdogs.

In addition to missing suspended superstar batsmen Steve Smith and David Warner, the tourists are also without their three first-choice paceman in Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, and leading allrounder Mitchell Marsh – six players who would likely consider themselves potentially key men in next year's World Cup campaign.

Their absence however, opens the door for others to make their mark.

"The England series is the first step on a journey that everyone seems to be acknowledging will take some time to rebuild complete trust and faith in everything that has gone on," Gilchrist told BBC Sport.

"This team will face some large hurdles over the course of the next 12 months, not just in rebuilding trust and confidence with the public supporting them, but in regards to missing a significant amount of first pick players.

"That is going to present an awful lot of challenges."

With Smith and Warner unavailable, Australia's batting order is set to be reshuffled, with the recalled Shaun Marsh looking set to bat in the top four and Travis Head or D'Arcy Short to open alongside the experienced Aaron Finch.

Head has been impressive since his ODI debut almost two years ago while Short broke all sorts of records in last summer's KFC Big Bash, then performed strongly in Australia's T20I side that went through the February tri-series with England and New Zealand unbeaten.

"Smith and Warner have been the scorers of the lion's share of runs in most formats in recent years so it is a significant hole," Gilchrist continued. "But I feel there are a number of players that can really step in and be productive and do a really good job.

"It's going to be challenging, particularly in those conditions against a highly-ranked and highly-rated England squad.

"There could be matches when they are bowled out really quickly because they are so attacking, but it's going to take a little bit of trial and error as well as a show of faith and trust from selectors.

"It's going to be an aggressive looking line-up and should it come off it will look great."

Gilchrist also said he expected the verbal sparring in the middle to revert to "business as usual once the heat gets turned up".

"It might be a little bit subdued early but there will be a competitive point where things will be said back and forwards," he said.

"It's happened forever and it will continue to happen in competitive sport."

Qantas tours of England and Zimbabwe

ODI squad: Tim Paine (c), Aaron Finch (vc), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Travis Head, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Shaun Marsh, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye

England ODI squad: Eoin Morgan (c), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Tom Curran, Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes (injured), David Willey, Chris Woakes (injured), Mark Wood

T20 squad: Aaron Finch (c), Alex Carey (vc), Ashton Agar, Travis Head, Nic Maddinson, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Andrew Tye, Jack Wildermuth

Qantas Tour of England

June 7: Australia beat Sussex by 57 runs at Hove

June 9: Australia beat Middlesex by 101 runs at Lord's

June 13: First ODI, The Oval (D/N)

June 16: Second ODI, Cardiff

June 19: Third ODI, Trent Bridge (D/N)

June 21: Fourth ODI, Durham (D/N)

June 24: Fifth ODI, Old Trafford

June 27: Only T20, Edgbaston (D/N)

Qantas T20I tri-series Tour of Zimbabwe

July 1: Zimbabwe vs Pakistan

July 2: Pakistan vs Australia

July 3: Australia vs Zimbabwe

July 4: Zimbabwe vs Pakistan

July 5: Pakistan vs Australia

July 6: Australia vs Zimbabwe

July 8: Final