England cricketer Ben Stokes has told a jury he joined a fracas after hearing two revellers shout homophobic abuse at two gay men in Bristol.
The allrounder, 27, is accused of knocking out two friends, Ryan Hale and Ryan Ali, during an alleged fight in Bristol on September 25.
Stokes, who plays for Durham, is standing trial at Bristol Crown Court jointly accused of affray alongside Ali.
Hale was found not guilty of the same charge by the jury on the direction of the judge on Thursday.
The cricketer denied claims he mocked two gay men, Kai Barry and William O’Connor, outside the Mbargo nightclub and flicked a cigarette butt at them.
He insisted he had instead stepped in to protect Barry and O’Connor after hearing Hale and Ali, who had a glass beer bottle, shout homophobic abuse at them.
“Mr Hale and Mr Ali were shouting homophobic comments towards these two and in return Mr O’Connor and Mr Barry were going back to them,” Stokes told the jury.
“They weren’t obviously going to let them say what they were saying. I stepped in. [I said] ‘You shouldn’t take the piss because they are gay’.
“I was told by Mr Ali along the lines of ‘Shut the f*** up or I will bottle you’.
“As soon as I see Mr Ali swing the bottle at someone and physically hit them with it, that’s when I took the decision that I needed to get involved.
The court heard Stokes was in Bristol at the time of the incident, having played a one-day international against the West Indies.
Under direction from his barrister, Gordon Cole QC, Stokes held up his hands and showed the jury injuries sustained from playing his sport.
The cricketer said he consumed about three or four pints of lager and five or six vodka and lemonades on the evening.
However, they were refused entry by door supervisor Andrew Cunningham as it was after 2am.
Stokes said the cricketers offered Cunningham around PS60 or PS70 ($104 or $120) to get them into the club, which was turned down.
“I said to him ‘Come on mate, I’ve got shit tattoos as well, let us back in’,” he told the court.
“I am constantly getting told by teammates and by who I play with that I have got shit tattoos.”
He denied making a V-sign to Cunningham, calling him a c*** or mentioning his four gold front teeth.
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
At least something we can agree on. I'm glad you're not me too. Progress of a kind.
Nudge
Guest
And as you’ll see Neil, Ronan as done an article today. By the way I reckon you’d be the most sensitive person I’ve seen on the roar, and the grumpiest. Just glad I’m not you. ?
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
I doubt very much you ever easily stand to be corrected, but Australia is ' ..coming up against one of the teams in the not too distant future ..' as their next home test series is against India in a few months time. Standing? And I doubt very much that you have been elected spokesperson on the preferences of all Australian's reading preferences, let alone cricket fans tuning into the cricket section. Look at me being all sensitive.
Nudge
Guest
We will have to agree to disagree Jimmy. The bottom line is that the Australian public would prefer to read about the Stokes trial then a test match between other countries in the middle of our footy season. After all it’s a very serious situation that Stokes finds himself in, and from what I’m reading, I’m guessing jail time is not out of the question. And yes i do think some English are sensitive. I’m happy to stand corrected but I can’t remember the roar ever publishing an article about a test series or test match between 2 other countries, unless Australia were coming up against one of the teams in the not to distant future. And to be honest I’m enjoying watching your mob take down Virat Kohli and his team after last years Oz v India series. By the way you can go to the Australian cricket website and get the full run down nearly day by day in regards to the current England v India test series. That should keep you happy mate.
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
Except punchy got replaced by Woakes - who nipped out Kohli and carried his bat for 137. Poor, poor us. Gold.
Charging Rhino
Roar Guru
Also it’s not just Dale’s numbers. But he performed and struck at just the right times when his team needed him most. Which Anderson does too to be fair. Dale rose to any and every challenge (and won), he’d take out the big guns. Smith would rev him up, he’d get those crazy eyes and just shred teams apart.
Charging Rhino
Roar Guru
Don’t get me wrong big fan of Jimmy Anderson too. No doubting his ability and talent. And as you mentioned I’m sure Dale is too. But over their Test history Dale’s numbers speak for themselves. He’s only been injured more recently. I don’t know how many years he was ranked no 1 Test bowler but he dominated it for a long time, all while Jimmy was playing too.
JimmyB
Guest
But he’s usually broken though isn’t he?! Dale himself would appear to be a big fan of Jimmy’s given his tweet during India’s second innings.
Charging Rhino
Roar Guru
No mate. Give me Dale Steyn rather...
JimmyB
Guest
If you say so champ.
SP
Guest
Poor poms struggling to come to grips with the fact their only half decent cricketer, Basher is nowt but a thug and coward. Gold
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
Nah. Own your embarrassment like a man.
JimmyB
Guest
Precious moi? How very dare you! ;) Morning Nudge, You might not be surprised to find that I disagree with James and agree with Neil. James talks about other sports and front pages which are all non sequiturs frankly. The Roar has a dedicated cricket page which it fills with all sorts of content from the sublime to the ridiculous so there’s definitely space for articles regarding the Stokes trial. My issue isn’t that the Stokes trial is being covered, although it’s all been very ‘tabloid’. My issue is that an enthralling test series has been completely ignored and the reason for that is purely and simply because England aren’t getting stuffed, to say otherwise would be disingenuous.
Nudge
Guest
Gday Jimmy, just find it interesting that you had reason to complain about the roar publishing an article about the Stokes saga, yet for the first day or 2 not one Australian made a comment in the comments section. I really think you are being a little precious mate and I’m not having a crack at you by saying that. If you read James explanation and you’re honest with yourself he nailed it spot on
JimmyB
Guest
Nudge, obviously we all know that this is an Aussie site, made for Aussies by Aussies and some of us are just unwelcome interlopers but I reckon even some Aussies (like your good self for instance) may be more interested in a test match, albeit one not involving Australia than the Caribbean Premier League. I trust that when England suffer their next inevitable batting collapse that we will see and hear nothing about it too. ;)
JimmyB
Guest
What he said.
jameswm
Roar Guru
If you were a fish... Indeed Nudge.
George
Guest
Except that when England lose a home Test, Ronan is all over it like a rash.
Oz_Pat
Guest
Jimny's closing in on Glenn Mcgrath's test wicket record. Although he's probably not quite a good as Pigeon he's certainly a more respected cricketer (and doen't hunt endangered animals) Broady will smash Mcgraths test wicket count and in my opinion is a better bowler
Nudge
Guest
Haha. Nailed it James. A bit sensitive our English friends