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Australia in command as Smith, Khawaja punish Sri Lanka on rain-hit opening day of first test

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Australia in command as Smith, Khawaja punish Sri Lanka on rain-hit opening day of first test
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Australia in command as Smith, Khawaja punish Sri Lanka on rain-hit opening day of first test

2025-01-29 21:54 Last Updated At:22:00

GALLE, Sri Lanka (AP) — Australia’s batters feasted on Sri Lanka’s bowling, racking up milestones and dominance on a rain-curtailed opening day of the first test in Galle on Wednesday.

The tourists finished on a commanding 330-2 with Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith both posting unbeaten centuries to set the platform for a formidable first-innings total.

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Australia's Steven Smith runs back to pavilion as the play interrupted by rain during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Steven Smith runs back to pavilion as the play interrupted by rain during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Steven Smith celebrates his century during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Steven Smith celebrates his century during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Usman Khawaja celebrates his century during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Usman Khawaja celebrates his century during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Usman Khawaja celebrates his century during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Usman Khawaja celebrates his century during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Steven Smith celebrates his century during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Steven Smith celebrates his century during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Steven Smith celebrates his century during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Steven Smith celebrates his century during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Steven Smith celebrates his century during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Steven Smith celebrates his century during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Steven Smith is congratulated by Usman Khawaja for completing ten thousand test runs during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Steven Smith is congratulated by Usman Khawaja for completing ten thousand test runs during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Marnus Labuschagne leaves the ground after losing his wicket during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Marnus Labuschagne leaves the ground after losing his wicket during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Steven Smith is congratulated by Usman Khawaja for completing ten thousand test runs during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Steven Smith is congratulated by Usman Khawaja for completing ten thousand test runs during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Travis Head looks at the pitch during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Travis Head looks at the pitch during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Travis Head smiles as he changes his gloves during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Travis Head smiles as he changes his gloves during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Travis Head leaves the ground after losing his wicket during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Travis Head leaves the ground after losing his wicket during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Usman Khawaja plays a shot as Sri Lanka's Kusal Mendis watches during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Usman Khawaja plays a shot as Sri Lanka's Kusal Mendis watches during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Usman Khawaja plays a shot during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Usman Khawaja plays a shot during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Marnus Labuschagne watches after surviving a close chance of being dismissed during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Marnus Labuschagne watches after surviving a close chance of being dismissed during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Marnus Labuschagne watches after surviving a close chance of being dismissed during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Marnus Labuschagne watches after surviving a close chance of being dismissed during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Usman Khawaja plays a shot during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Usman Khawaja plays a shot during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Usman Khawaja celebrates his fifty runs during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Usman Khawaja celebrates his fifty runs during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Sri Lanka's Nishan Peiris unsuccessfully appeals for the wicket of Australia's Marnus Labuschagne during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Sri Lanka's Nishan Peiris unsuccessfully appeals for the wicket of Australia's Marnus Labuschagne during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Usman Khawaja plays a shot during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Usman Khawaja plays a shot during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Steven Smith acknowledges the crowd after completing ten thousand runs during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Steven Smith acknowledges the crowd after completing ten thousand runs during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Sri Lankan traditional dancers perform asSri Lanka's test cricket captain Dhananjaya de Silva, center left, and his Australian counterpart Steve Smith pose with the Warne–Muralitharan trophy ahead of their two test match series in Galle, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. (AP Photo)

Sri Lankan traditional dancers perform asSri Lanka's test cricket captain Dhananjaya de Silva, center left, and his Australian counterpart Steve Smith pose with the Warne–Muralitharan trophy ahead of their two test match series in Galle, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. (AP Photo)

Smith etched his name in the record books by becoming only the 15th player in history – and the fourth Australian – to surpass 10,000 Test runs, joining the elite company of Allan Border, Steve Waugh, and Ricky Ponting. Walking in with 9,999 runs to his name, he nudged a single off Prabath Jayasuriya to reach the milestone.

“I was at the other end when Smith got out in Sydney and I was geared up to celebrate and it was devastating,” Khawaja said. “I just really gave a big hug and said you are an absolute legend and you get to 10,000 runs once and enjoy.”

Sri Lanka had a golden chance to remove Smith early, but Jayasuriya spilled a return catch – an error that proved costly. The Australian stand-in captain made him pay, hammering an unbeaten 104, laced with 10 boundaries and a six, while forging a mammoth 195-run unbroken stand with Khawaja for the third wicket.

Khawaja, looking at ease throughout, remained unbeaten on 147, striking 10 fours and a six. His fluent innings made his recent struggles against India – a series in which he managed just one half-century – seem like a distant memory.

“If you watch my knocks in the past, if you watch my innings against India in Delhi when I got 80 odd I was still attacking a lot,” he said. “At Indore when we won there I was attacking in the first innings. Trying to figure out that part of the game.”

With only 81.1 overs possible due to rain, Australia will be eager to pile on the runs on day two. Holding a three-spinner advantage, it is well-placed to put Sri Lanka under immense pressure on a pitch expected to deteriorate. A victory in this test would be enough for Australia to retain the Warne–Murali Trophy.

“It was a disappointing day for us. I don’t think we bowled all that well today,” Sri Lanka spin bowling coach Piyal Wijetunge said. ”Australia took the attack on to us and we knew they would come after us, but we were just poor.

“Hopefully, we will tidy things up tomorrow morning and two quick wickets will get us back into the game. But we have lot of catching up to do.”

Earlier, Travis Head provided an electric start, smashing 57 off just 40 balls, peppering the boundary 10 times and clearing it once. The Australian vice-captain looked to dominate Jayasuriya but perished trying to clear long-on, ending a 92-run opening wicket stand with Khawaja.

Leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay, playing his first test in two years, managed a breakthrough by dismissing Marnus Labuschagne, caught at slip. But from there, Smith and Khawaja took control, ensuring Australia dictated terms.

Sri Lanka’s bowling lacked discipline, and its use of reviews proved costly. The hosts missed an opportunity to dismiss Head on 23, failing to challenge an LBW decision, and then Khawaja on 74, when he edged behind – another review left unused.

Australia, well on top, now have the perfect opportunity to bat Sri Lanka out of the contest

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

Australia's Steven Smith runs back to pavilion as the play interrupted by rain during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Steven Smith runs back to pavilion as the play interrupted by rain during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Steven Smith celebrates his century during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Steven Smith celebrates his century during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Usman Khawaja celebrates his century during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Usman Khawaja celebrates his century during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Usman Khawaja celebrates his century during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Usman Khawaja celebrates his century during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Steven Smith celebrates his century during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Steven Smith celebrates his century during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Steven Smith celebrates his century during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Steven Smith celebrates his century during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Steven Smith celebrates his century during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Steven Smith celebrates his century during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Steven Smith is congratulated by Usman Khawaja for completing ten thousand test runs during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Steven Smith is congratulated by Usman Khawaja for completing ten thousand test runs during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Marnus Labuschagne leaves the ground after losing his wicket during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Marnus Labuschagne leaves the ground after losing his wicket during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Steven Smith is congratulated by Usman Khawaja for completing ten thousand test runs during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Steven Smith is congratulated by Usman Khawaja for completing ten thousand test runs during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Travis Head looks at the pitch during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Travis Head looks at the pitch during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Travis Head smiles as he changes his gloves during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Travis Head smiles as he changes his gloves during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Travis Head leaves the ground after losing his wicket during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Travis Head leaves the ground after losing his wicket during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Usman Khawaja plays a shot as Sri Lanka's Kusal Mendis watches during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Usman Khawaja plays a shot as Sri Lanka's Kusal Mendis watches during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Usman Khawaja plays a shot during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Usman Khawaja plays a shot during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Marnus Labuschagne watches after surviving a close chance of being dismissed during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Marnus Labuschagne watches after surviving a close chance of being dismissed during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Marnus Labuschagne watches after surviving a close chance of being dismissed during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Marnus Labuschagne watches after surviving a close chance of being dismissed during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Usman Khawaja plays a shot during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Usman Khawaja plays a shot during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Usman Khawaja celebrates his fifty runs during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Usman Khawaja celebrates his fifty runs during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Sri Lanka's Nishan Peiris unsuccessfully appeals for the wicket of Australia's Marnus Labuschagne during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Sri Lanka's Nishan Peiris unsuccessfully appeals for the wicket of Australia's Marnus Labuschagne during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Usman Khawaja plays a shot during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Usman Khawaja plays a shot during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Steven Smith acknowledges the crowd after completing ten thousand runs during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Steven Smith acknowledges the crowd after completing ten thousand runs during day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Sri Lankan traditional dancers perform asSri Lanka's test cricket captain Dhananjaya de Silva, center left, and his Australian counterpart Steve Smith pose with the Warne–Muralitharan trophy ahead of their two test match series in Galle, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. (AP Photo)

Sri Lankan traditional dancers perform asSri Lanka's test cricket captain Dhananjaya de Silva, center left, and his Australian counterpart Steve Smith pose with the Warne–Muralitharan trophy ahead of their two test match series in Galle, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. (AP Photo)

Next Article

Takeaways from AP's investigation into dozens of deaths of police recruits

2025-02-18 17:07 Last Updated At:17:20

When a sheriff’s deputy died at a police academy in Evansville, Indiana, two years ago, law enforcement leaders said he had collapsed during routine training.

The Associated Press set out to learn whether such deaths were routine and why were they happening. Drawing on public records and news reports, AP's investigation found that at least 29 recruits have died nationwide over the past decade while participating in basic training to become law enforcement officers.

The findings surprised some experts because no group or government agency comprehensively tracks recruit deaths. Here are some takeaways from AP’s investigation.

The investigation found that most of those who died had collapsed after intense physical exertion during training exercises and tests.

Those included lengthy obstacle courses, grueling sets of calisthenics and timed runs that recruits must pass or face potential expulsion. Sometimes, these activities were completed on extremely hot days or without access to water.

Many of the deaths happened on the first day of physical training, which is famously intense at some academies. Others happened much later during the monthslong programs.

A handful of the deaths involved boxing or simulated training fights that inflicted trauma, as was the case of Deputy Asson Hacker in Evansville.

Heat stroke, dehydration, excessive physical exertion and related conditions were often cited by medical examiners as causing or contributing to the deaths.

Black men made up nearly 60% of recruits who died, even though Black officers comprise about 12 percent of local police forces nationwide.

Some experts say a genetic condition helps explain this disparity. Sickle cell trait is most prevalent among Black Americans. It involves an abnormal gene in red blood cells.

Sickle cell trait usually does not affect their daily lives or their lifespan. But in rare cases, carriers are more likely to experience complications such as heat stroke and muscle breakdown when doing intense physical and athletic training, especially during conditions such as high temperatures.

Medical examiners cited the condition as contributing to the deaths of several recruits, such as 33-year-old Edgar Ordonez, who died of exertional heat stroke while training last summer for the New York City Police Department.

Unlike the military and the NCAA, many police departments do not screen recruits for the condition before hiring them. And many adults do not know whether they carry the trait.

The Centers for Disease Control recommends remaining hydrated, building in rest breaks and taking other steps to cool body temperatures for carriers who are in training.

The deaths appear to be on the rise in recent years, as police departments have turned to an older and more diverse pool of applicants to fill openings.

The majority of the deaths happened since 2020, when the pandemic and protests against police brutality exacerbated the number of vacancies. Many of those who died were in their 30s and 40s.

Alarmed by a string of such deaths, one researcher warned in a medical journal in 2023 that they were preventable with the right precautions and that police chiefs should take action.

But they have continued to mount since then. At least 5 recruits died in 2024, from Tennessee to Massachusetts.

Because many deceased recruits were not yet sworn officers, their names are ineligible to be added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington.

Sometimes their names do not qualify for similar state memorials, and their families cannot access state death benefits for officers killed in the line of duty.

Similarly, national organizations track closely the circumstances of deaths of sworn officers. But no group is dedicated to police recruits, and that means any trends in their deaths can go unnoticed.

Workplace safety regulators have the jurisdiction to investigate police academy deaths in some states, but lack it in many others.

The extent of any death investigations is often left to the discretion of the individual police departments who run the academies and the prosecutors and medical examiners who work closely with them.

Sharline Volcy holds a photo from her wedding to Ronald Donat, on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in Orange, N.J. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

Sharline Volcy holds a photo from her wedding to Ronald Donat, on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in Orange, N.J. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

Widow Sharline Volcy holds a picture of her deceased husband, Roland Donat, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in Orange, N.J. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

Widow Sharline Volcy holds a picture of her deceased husband, Roland Donat, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in Orange, N.J. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

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