With his participation in the upcoming Ashes still under a cloud following the brawl outside a nightclub in Bristol last month, controversial English all-rounder Ben Stokes found the backing of two gay men, who praised him for defending the duo from a homophobic attack that night.

According to a report by The Sun, two gay men Kai Barry (26) and Billy O'Connell (20) supported the claim made by Stokes in the wake of his arrest on suspicion of actual bodily harm, of coming to their defence when they were subjected to homophobic attacks.