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Rain continues to cause delays on day one of the third Ashes Test in Leeds, where Australia reached 1-12 after four overs before the covers came back on.

England's fickle weather and a fearsome Jofra Archer have reduced Australia to 1-12 from four overs in Leeds, where rain delayed the start of the third Ashes Test and is expected to be a regular source of frustration on day one.

Joe Root won the toss and backed Archer and Stuart Broad to terrorise Marcus Harris, recalled after Australia's selectors ran out of patience with Cameron Bancroft, and David Warner under dark skies.

Warner somehow managed to survive 12 deliveries despite the ball regularly beating the bat, while Harris was undone by a pinpoint ball from Archer that found the edge and sailed to keeper Jonny Bairstow.

England's fielders, the umpires and Warner followed Harris off immediately after the wicket, with rain returning to Headingley after it delayed the toss then the start of play.

Umpires, who took lunch when the covers were on, are hoping play will resume at 10.25pm AEST.

England legend Alastair Cook felt Harris missed a trick, having been struck by Archer's preceding delivery as the heavens started to open.

"I'm so surprised he didn't go down (ensuring he would have been not out when play stopped)," Cook said on BBC.

"It's being aware, but you always want to be tough, not show any pain."

Harris and James Pattinson replaced Bancroft and Peter Siddle in the team that salvaged a draw at Lord's, while Marnus Labuschagne is playing in place of enforced omission Steve Smith.

Tim Paine called incorrectly at the toss then claimed he wanted to bat first, while England skipper Joe Root named an unchanged side.

Justin Langer suggested on Tuesday the tourists were not considering changes to the top six from day five of the second Test, when Labuschagne's match-saving 59 came as a concussion substitute for Smith.

"Harris comes in. He's been playing really well for the last 15 months, he's played really well in the tour game leading into the last Test and was close to playing that," Paine said at the toss.

Pattinson was rested from the drawn Test at Lord's, with management making it clear he could play the second or third Test but not both because of a tight turnaround.

"Sidds has bowled really well and played his role really nicely for us ... he'll rest up," Paine said.