Ian Bell smashes 141 as England set Aussies 303 to win in Hobart

A hundred to England's Ian Bell has left Australia chasing a daunting total of 303 in Hobart in their tri-series clash.

The 32-year-old smashed his fourth career ton and highest ever score before he was eventually dismissed for 141.

Joe Root chipped in with 69 as the tourists made stand-in skipper Steve Smith regret his decision to bowl first.

Second-gamer Gurinder Sandhu was the pick of the bowlers with 2/49 from his ten overs.

Smith is taking the reins following George Bailey’s suspension due to the side’s slow over rate at the MCG, denying the Tasmanian a chance to lead in front of his home crowd. 

Bailey's fellow Tasmanian, left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty, was also left out.

Australia made three changes in total, with David Warner and Shane Watson rested with slight hamstring concerns.

Test batsman Shaun Marsh returns to the top of the order, with NSW all-rounder Moises Henriques and Victorian veteran Cameron White also recalled.

England retained their side which made light work of the Indians at the Gabba on Sunday.

Australia XI: Aaron Finch, Shaun Marsh, Steve Smith (captain), Cameron White, Glenn Maxwell, James Faulkner, Brad Haddin (wk), Moises Henriques, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Gurinder Sandhu

England XI: Ian Bell, Moeen Ali, James Taylor, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan (captain), Ravi Bopara, Jos Buttler (wk), Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes, James Anderson, Steven Finn

Blackmail attempt on Morgan

English skipper Eoin Morgan will be keen to get on with the cricket after revelations he was subjected to a $A65,000 blackmail plot by a former fling.

The ECB said it received an email from an Australian man demanding a "five-figure sum" to prevent him revealing details regarding a relationship the Irish-born Morgan had with a woman five years ago to newspapers in the UK and Australia.

ECB officials in Australia approached the Tasmanian after discussions with the Metropolitan Police.

The man concerned - reportedly a Hobart workplace safety consultant - is currently in a relationship with the woman Morgan had a relationship with, and when confronted he admitted and apologised for his actions.

With AAP.