Harris dismissed England opener Joe Root lbw for six after a lengthy review which finally confirmed the ball had brushed the bat but had first hit the pad. Kevin Pietersen fell in the same over caught behind for two pushing forward to a full delivery.
Shane Watson, introduced in the fifth over, made the breakthrough when his second ball beat captain Alastair Cook off the pitch and trapped him lbw for 12.
England were left floundering on 28 for three before reaching lunch on 80-3 with Jonathan Trott, who took boundaries off his first two deliveries, on 34.
Cook, who had won the toss for the second test in a row, made a brisk start on a hot, sunny day when play began 15 minutes late after the teams had been presented to Queen Elizabeth.
He pushed his second ball from the opening over by James Pattinson from the Nursery end through mid-wicket for four and took another to square leg when the bowler strayed down the leg-side again.
His dismissal with the score on 18 prompted a mini-slump as Harris, who replaced Mitchell Starc from the team who lost the first test by 14 runs, bustled in with energy and intent from the Pavilion end.
Watson, whose relationship with captain Michael Clarke had come under scrutiny again before the match with reports from Australia about a rift between the pair, played his part with four accurate overs of medium pace and the wicket of Root.
Harris's test career has been hampered by a chronic knee complaint and he had played only 12 tests since making his debut at the age of 29 four years ago. His figures, though, are impressive with 47 wickets at under 24 runs each before this match.
(Editing by Pritha Sarkar)
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