Ben Stokes is expected to be subject to provocation if he travels to Australia for this summer's Ashes after the England vice-captain's arrested for alleged brawling.

The star all-rounder has been dropped for Wednesday's one-day match against the West Indies after his arrest outside a nightclub in Bristol on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm.

Stokes is likely to keep his spot for the Ashes, with England's cricket director Andrew Strauss insisting the squad will be named "based on form and fitness" on Wednesday evening.

But England might opt to impose a lengthy suspension on Stokes, who has a history of misdemeanours, while police investigations into the incident early on Monday could result in him facing court.

There are also rumours in the UK press that Stokes might have broken his hand in the stoush.

His absence would be a massive blow to England's chances given his Ashes credentials.

He hit a swashbuckling century during his debut Test series in Australia in 2013. He has taken 26 Ashes wickets at 33.07 with his medium-fast pace.

"If Stokes doesn't go to Aus, then England should just stay at home," former England batting star Kevin Pietersen tweeted.

If selected, former England captain Michael Vaughan said the 26-year-old would be "goaded the moment he arrives" in Australia - a view echoed by another former skipper, Nasser Hussain.

"If this sort of thing can happen in Bristol, then it could happen anywhere in Australia during the Ashes tour," Hussain told the Daily Mail.

"You can be absolutely sure there will be someone in Australia out to make a name for themselves who will know what Ben is like and will try to wind him up.

"He will have to be a lot more careful than he has been so far in his career."

Vaughan criticised Stokes for threatening the team's preparation for the five-Test series, starting on November 23 in Brisbane.

"The facts are the England vice-captain was out at 2.30am, drinking two days before an England game and he has hit someone," Vaughan wrote in the Telegraph.

"What this has done is cast a massive shadow over the England team at the worst time ... he could be charged."

Retired Australian batsman Michael Slater said an Ashes suspension for Stokes would be a huge blow.

"I certainly hope he's playing for England because I think he'll play well out here," Slater told Sky Sports Radio on Wednesday.

"I'd like to see him do a job for England just because it'll be competitive.

"He's a proper all-rounder. He means a lot to England."

The England Cricket Board said Stokes was detained early on Monday but was released without charge in the evening pending an investigation.

AAP