Cricketer denies being drunk and enraged during fight

ENGLAND cricketer Ben Stokes has denied being “really very drunk” and “enraged” when he knocked unconscious two revellers near a nightclub, a court has heard.

The 27-year-old all-rounder insisted he had intervened to stop Ryan Ali, 28, and Ryan Hale, 27, from abusing gay men William O’connor and Kai Barry.

And it turned violent when Stokes claimed Ali – who is on trial alongside him at Bristol Crown Court jointly accused of affray – told him to “F*** off or I’ll bottle you”.

Giving evidence for a second day, Stokes explained he had drunk a bottle of beer immediately after the one-day international win against the West Indies and then had two or three pints back at the hotel over dinner.

He then went into Bristol city centre with his England teammates and had five or six vodka and lemonades and “possibly” some “Jaegerbombs”.

After failing to be allowed back into the Mbargo nightclub as it was closing, Stokes and his teammate Alex Hales were heading to a casino when they got into the alleged fracas with the two revellers in the early hours of last September 25.

The cricketer explained he could not remember punching Ali or his friend Mr Hale and said he intervened because they had directed homophobic abuse at the two gay men but was unable to say what those words were.

Nicholas Corsellis, prosecuting, suggested the reason he was having problems remembering exactly what happened that night was because he was “actually really very drunk”, which Stokes denied.

Stokes replied: “I think the whole incident would have been clouded because it was such... there was a lot of people around... a lot of shouting.”

Stokes denied being out on a “mission” and said what he wanted that evening was a “good night” with his England teammates.

He also denied making derogatory comments about Mbargo doorman Andrew Cunningham’s gold teeth and tattoos.

When the prosecutor asked what Stokes was looking at, he said: “I might just be looking at the night sky.” Mr Corsellis said: “Who were you speaking to when you were looking at the night sky?”

Stokes replied: “God?”

Stokes, of Castle Eden, Durham, and Ali, of Bristol, each deny a charge of affray. The trial continues.