The Old Enemy's Ashes defence is in danger of being derailed just one day after its squad announcement with Stokes' playing future hanging in the balance.

While his availability for the Ashes hinges on the outcomes of investigations conducted by police and the England and Wales Cricket Board, anti-violence campaigners have called for a change in culture that "glorifies and excuses violence" with one advocate calling for the all-rounder to be dumped.

Fairfax Media understands the Department of Immigration and Border Protection would be unlikely to deny Stokes a visa to enter the country even if he was to be charged, as such action is typically reserved for applicants with an extensive criminal history.

There was a feeling in Australian cricket circles on Thursday that there was no way the ECB could allow Stokes to play in this summer's Ashes, with some saying the board risked becoming a laughing stock if he toured. There is also a belief that an Australian player would have had his contract torn up had he behaved in such a way.

Stokes, however, is a player of rare ability and whom England can ill afford to lose if they are to have success in Australia.

Cricket Australia holds a dim view on players who misbehave with David Warner, James Faulkner and Stephen O'Keefe all having felt the organisation's wrath.

The ECB's probe into Stokes is not expected to start before Friday but there will be calls for swift action after the publication of a damning video believed to be of the player brawling outside a Bristol nightclub.

The video, obtained by The Sun newspaper in Britain, shows a man believed to be Stokes flooring another man with a punch despite a bystander, believed to be teammate Alex Hales, pleading with him to stop.

Stokes had earlier responded angrily to another man who had lashed out with a glass bottle at a member of the all-rounder's party.

Stokes is believed to have broken a finger in his right hand in the incident, though the ECB refused to comment on how his injury was sustained.

"I saw Stokes throw 15 punches in one minute. No wonder he broke a finger," a witness told The Sun.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan defended Stokes in two now-deleted tweets.

"Seen the video. It's not good. But I would like to know why the kid swings a bottle at the start !?" Vaughan tweeted.

"The video is awful viewing. [Stokes] shouldn't be in that position. But was he reacting & protecting 2 people from a random attack!"

Former Victoria wicketkeeper Darren Berry said the video "brought back horrific memories". Berry was with former Australia Test batsman and Victoria coach David Hookes when he was killed by a king hit.

The founder of anti-violence organisation Enough is Enough, Ken Marslew, whose son was shot dead in an armed robbery, said Stokes' behaviour was not befitting that of the vice-captain of an international sporting team.

"Sportspeople, whether they realise it or not, are role models for the community - they have a responsibility to react in the appropriate manner," Marslew said. "If they leave him in charge as vice-captain he won't learn a bloody thing. There has to be consequences for this sort of thing, whoever you are."

The chief of Step Back Think, Anna O'Halloran, said positive role models were needed to end social violence.

"Acts of violence are committed by individuals but they are part of a broader culture that trivialises and dismisses violence as normal and even inevitable," O'Halloran said.