Piers Morgan defends Ben Stokes, 'he was fighting for gay guys'

British journalist Piers Morgan has come to the defence of England cricketer Ben Stokes, claiming that the embattled all-rounder was defending two gay guys, who were being abused.

Stokes, 26, has been suspended by the ECB after a video of his brawl outside a Bristol pub emerged and went viral on social media. He was arrested on Monday in Bristol on suspicion of causing 'actual bodily harm'. He was released without charge, but remains under investigation.

"I'm hearing that Ben Stokes intervened to help two gay guys who were being abused by yobs (youths), one of whom was armed with a bottle," Morgan wrote in one of the tweets.

BREAKING:
I'm hearing that Ben Stokes intervened to help two gay guys who were being abused by yobs, one of whom was armed with a bottle.

— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) September 28, 2017

2/ Stokes has told friends he was incensed by the homophobic taunts, then saw the bottle being raised & decided to defend himself.

— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) September 28, 2017

4/ Police are aware of Stokes' version of events & are now trying to find the two gay men, to corroborate what he's said.

— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) September 28, 2017

5/ Stokes has told friends: 'The guy had a bottle in his hand & was threatening us, was I supposed to wait until he smashed it in my face?'

— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) September 28, 2017

People can obviously make their own minds up about the Stokes video, but his defence certainly raises new questions.

— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) September 28, 2017

Stokes was stupid to be out boozing & fighting at 2.30am.
But if he WAS defending two gay guys from threatening, abusive, homophobic yobs?

— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) September 28, 2017

On Thursday, ECB released a statement saying Stokes will not be considered for England international matches "until further notice".

The incident happened after England's victory in the third ODI against West Indies on Sunday, in which Stokes scored 73.

Stokes reportedly injured his hand in the fight. His team-mate Alex Hales was also present, and both have been suspended for the final two ODIs of the series.

Stokes, regarded as world's premier all-rounder, has played 39 Tests, 62 ODIs and 21 T20Is.