Cricket: Kiwi-born Ben Stokes tells magazine he'd 'never punch anyone' before arrest

On Sunday, New Zealand-born England test cricketer Ben Stokes graced the cover of a UK magazine, with the article quoting the troubled all-rounder saying he would "never get close to punching someone".

Less than 24 hours later the England vice-captain was arrested on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm after allegedly being involved in a street brawl in Bristol that saw one man taken to hospital with facial injuries.

CCTV footage obtained by The Sun shows a man closely resembling Stokes knocking out another man with a vicious right hook, while an eyewitness told the newspaper Stokes threw "15 punches in a minute" in the brawl, that reportedly left the cricketer with a broken right hand.

In the video, men can be heard shouting: "Enough, Stokes."

British media are reporting that Stokes rushed to the defence of a group of friends, including teammate Alex Hales, after a man charged the group with a bottle in the brawl only hours after a one-day international against the West Indies.

Stokes, who was released without charge but remains under investigation, was included in England's 16-man squad for the upcoming Ashes series in Australia, but a number of former cricketers have blasted Stokes for the attack.

The Times magazine on Sunday published an interview with the big-hitting left-hander in which he opens up about his previous disciplinary issues.

Asked how close some of his on-field clashes have those clashes have come to being physical, Stokes replied: "There's adrenaline there, but I'd never get close to punching someone.

"It's the heat of the moment. Trying to be the bloke to get the wicket that will change the game back in our favour."

He also told The Times that he has been working closely with a psychologist to control his anger issues.

England coach Trevor Bayliss earlier described the circumstances which led to Stokes' arrest as "very unprofessional".

The England and Wales Cricket Board said: "We have seen this footage for the first time tonight - when posted by The Sun.

"There is an ongoing Police investigation, which will look at all available evidence, and we do have to respect that process."

Ex-England captain Michael Vaughan did not condone Stokes' behaviour but asks the question whether the all-rounder might have been trying to stop a random attack.

Vaughan, tweeted: "The Ashes are looking like being lost even before England arrive in Australia".