Oxfordshire ring the changes as they bid to get off the mark against Kent Board in their opening group match of the ECB 38-County Competition at Christ Church on Sunday (11am).

Into the side come Banbury's big-hitting all-rounder David Taylor, Oxford Downs all-rounder Luke List and Wimbledon seamer Michael Bellhouse.

They replace batsmen Shahbaz Ali and Patrick Jobson and left-arm spinner Paul White from the side beaten by 126 runs by Shropshire in the Minor Counties Championship this week.

That was Oxon's second heavy defeat so far this season following their drubbing by Huntingdon in the Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy.

Skipper Rob Williams is aware that his men need to get that first win under their belts.

"It is time for us to start winning," Williams said.

"We've got to come to terms with the fact that we are probably going to be without our best bowler in Keith Arnold and our best batsman in Craig Haupt all season.

"We have to group together, realise that it is going to be a different sort of side this year and start relying on the players we have to perform.

"I think that some good will come of it. Arnie's absence means that some younger bowlers will get an opportunity, while Craig being out means the same for a batsman."

Williams was impressed with the performance of Adam Cook against Shropshire.

The young Cumnor skipper made 31 not out from 101 balls in the first innings and an unbeaten 32 from 116 in the second.

"I've felt for a while that Adam deserves the chance to go up the order, and it could well be as an opener," Williams added.

"Stewart Laudat is likely to bowl a lot of overs this season with Arnie injured, so I'm not sure that he is going to open the batting. Adam is one option, but we have others. We might go with Ben Thompson when he is back, and Andrew Sabin is doing well up at Banbury."

But despite Oxon's slow start to the campaign, and the prospect of missing two key players for the entire season, Williams remains upbeat.

"Whatever happens we are going in the right direction. We have young local players coming through into the side, whereas you look at Shropshire and both of their opening bowlers this week were from outside the county."

Oxfordshire (v Kent CB, Christ Church, Sun, 11): R Williams (Bicester & NO, capt), K Mustow (Oxford), S Laudat (Rover Cowley), C Knightley (Richmond), A Cook (Cumnor), D Taylor (Banbury), L List (Oxford Downs), I Hawtin (Bicester & NO), M Bellhouse (Wimbledon), G Peddy, (Hampstead), I Adams (Banbury).