AUSTRALIA, brace yourselves for a rough nine months of international cricket.

That’s the message from Test great Brian Lara.

The Prince was on hand in Toronto for day two of the fledgling Global T20 Canada league, where banned Australia duo David Warner and Steve Smith have made their first competitive appearances since the ball-tampering saga in South Africa in March.

Former Test skipper Smith and his ex-deputy Warner are three months into one-year bans from international and domestic first-class cricket by Cricket Australia for their roles, alongside Cameron Bancroft, in “sandpaper gate” during the Test in Cape Town.

Lara, regarded as one of the greatest batsman of all time, cringed as Australia was “destroyed” by England 5-0 in the recent one-day series.

The 49-year-old believes Australian sides are going to do it tough for the next nine months without Warner and Smith — who is the world’s top-ranked Test batsman — at the crease.

“It’s going to be a struggle,” Lara told The Daily Telegraph.

Australia was also without injured quicks Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins.

But Lara was impressed with young batsmen Travis Head and D’Arcy Short during the limited-overs tour of England, which was Justin Langer’s first assignment as head coach.

“You can tell the Australians are trying to bring forward a few younger players and experienced players to get what is needed,” Lara said.

“But it is just under a year out from the World Cup and Australia surely would want to know what their options are going forward.

“You expect Warner and Smith to get back in the team, but two men don’t make a team.”

Lara, however, has backed defending champions Australia to arrive ready at next year’s World Cup, which will played in England.

“Okay, England are taking the mickey at the moment and destroying Australia, but you can never count the Australians out,” Lara said.

“Australia is always going to be a force to be reckoned with; you just need to get young talent in and see who can swim against the tide.

“Australia may be struggling at the moment, but they do have the talent and the experience to turn it around.

“Sheffield Shield, and all forms of cricket in Australia, are some of the toughest leagues in the world to grow up.”

Lara has backed former Test opener Langer, who was appointed by Cricket Australia in May as national coach in all formats, to lead Australian cricket into a new era.

“Justin was a student of the game; he understood everything and he’s instilling that passion into his players,” Lara said.

“The (Australian) team he played in, with (Glenn) McGrath, Shane Warne, Mark and Steve Waugh ... his wealth of experience will count when it is needed most.

“I think he will do a very good job as a coach from the practical side, but also from the mental side.”