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Cricket star Ben Stokes says he was looking up to the sky and speaking to 'God' before he was involved in a street brawl, a court has heard.

The 27-year-old all-rounder made the bizarre remark during cross-examination on the fifth day of his trial at Bristol crown court on Friday.

Examining footage of Stokes talking to bouncer Andrew Cunningham, outside the Mbargo nightclub in Bristol from the night of the melee, Prosecutor Nicholas Corsellis asked him who he was speaking to when he was looking up at the night sky and mouthing words.

Stokes replied: "God?"

(Image: PA)

But Stokes insisted that "all of his actions were in self-defence" and that he reacted the way he did because he was "fearing for his safety"

The cricketer explained that he could not remember punching Ryan Ali, 28 or his friend Mr Hale, 27, 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.

(Image: Avon and Somerset Police)

Mr Corsellis asked: "You don't remember any of the words of the homophobic abuse that you assert took place.

Mr Corsellis asked: "Is it because you are hiding behind your lack of recollection because you know full well you carried out a retaliatory attack upon those two men, first Mr Hale and then Mr Ali?"

Stokes replied: "No, all my actions were in self-defence and fearing for my safety."

Stokes said he also had "some" Jagerbombs in the Mbargo nightclub and admitted to some memory blackouts - but said he was not drunk on the night.

Co-defendant Ryan Ali, 28, also took to the witness box yesterday and told jurors his recollection of events was "incomplete" after he suffered a "significant head injury" in the fight.

(Image: PA)

The jury previously heard Mr Ali had suffered a fractured left eye socket, a cracked tooth and cuts and bruises, while Mr Hale suffered bruising and a cut to his forehead.

Mr Ali said he could remember walking with Mr Hale and two gay men, Kai Barry and William O'Connor "having some banter" when he saw "what I thought was a tall blonde guy in the road charging towards me".

The court heard earlier that Mr Stokes stepped in to defend Mr Barry and Mr O'Connor, who he said Mr Ali and Mr Hale had made homophobic slurs towards.

(Image: PA)

Mr Ali denied being the "initial aggressor" in the incident and replied "definitely not" when asked if he had been looking for a fight.

Asked why Mr Stokes may have charged towards him, Mr Ali replied: "I have no idea. I can make my own perception from all of the CCTV. He was very angry and he was looking for someone to pick on."

Stokes of Durham, and Ali, of Bristol, each deny a charge of affray.

Ryan Hale, 27, was acquitted of the same charge on Thursday.

The trial continues.