REPORTS have emerged in the UK of Ben Stokes partying until 3am during a recent Test match in Manchester, as former captain Michael Vaughan launched a scathing attack on England’s drinking culture.

Bristol police could still be two months away from handing down charges into the alleged bar fight involving Stokes, meaning the ECB are under pressure to put an immediate line through their biggest name for the Ashes and try and avoid the ugly saga becoming an overwhelming distraction.

ASHES: England’s desperate bid to replace Stokes

England will announce their central contracting list for the coming year on Thursday, and while Stokes is expected to be offered a new deal, he could be in for a significant financial hit with some sports marketing firms in the UK predicting the fallout from the alleged brawl could cost him up to 30 million pounds in endorsements.

media_camera England have dropped Ben Stokes following his arrest on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm after he was allegedly involved in an ugly brawl outside a Bristol nightclub.

The naming of their one-day squad has been delayed another week, amid reports Bristol police are in no hurry to make the ECB’s decision for them – pouring heat on cricket boss Andrew Strauss to stand up and sack Stokes now so teammates can move on.

In a strong broadside, Vaughan claimed England’s problems run far deeper than Stokes and that the ECB is responsible for covering up an out of control culture that has turned a blind eye to drinking and unprofessional behaviour.

“A story came out this week that Ben Stokes was out until 3am during a Test match in Manchester,” Vaughan told the BBC.

“I knew that at the time, it was the talk of the media centre. The story was ripped out of the newspapers; it wasn’t allowed to go in; they (the ECB) fought tooth and nail to make sure that story didn’t reach the papers – bad PR, looks terrible on Ben Stokes.

“If I knew it and the media knew it, how come anything wasn’t done to Ben Stokes in the England team?

“Yes, (Stokes is) 26 years of age, he should be more mature, he has made a massive mistake and I have no sympathy for Ben Stokes whatsoever.

“But the management of the England team have to look at themselves in the mirror and say, ‘Hang on a minute, could we have done a bit more? Could we have been a bit stricter?’.

“I am not saying I want a headmaster and have a curfew and say ,’You have got to be in your room by 11pm and you can never drink’, but there is a time and a place and I just think now, with what has gone on this week, the culture of cricket has to change quickly.”

Meanwhile, recovering Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has confirmed he’s currently slated to return to action for game’s two and three of the Sheffield Shield season – giving him two hit outs leading into the first Test.

Ideally, NSW would love to have Hazlewood (side strain) back for the opening round of the Shield, which will likely feature Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins. Unfortunately, James Pattinson is in fresh injury trouble.

Test great Michael Slater believes ODI star Nathan Coulter-Nile will play game’s two and three of the Shield and put himself firmly in line for a shock Test debut against England at the Gabba.