6ft4in Ryan: If I drop her, it’s a long way down

Cricketer’s ice partner fear

LANKY cricketer Ryan Sidebottom has left his much smaller skating partner terrified after dropping her.

The 6ft 4in former England fast bowler – who is 6ft 8in in skates – has been practicing routines with 5ft 2in Brandee Malto.

He said: “All I can say is that it is a long way down. We have had to work on getting the rhythm and getting us to look sharp together. The height difference is huge.

“She was scared the first time we did lifts. She was like, ‘Oh my God. It is a long way up here’. I have dropped her a few times.”

He said he was determined to win the ITV show. “I hope being a sportsman gives you the competitive edge,” he said.

Yorkshireman Ryan, 40, took more than 1,000 wickets before retiring in 2017. He played in 22 Tests for England and won the 2010 ICC World Twenty20 with the team.

Ryan will be up against Westlife singer Brian Mcfadden, Loose Women star Saira Khan, Pussycat Doll Melody Thornton, X Factor winner Saara Aalto, former Love Island contestant Wes Nelson, TOWIE star Gemma Collins, dancer James Jordan, actors Richard Blackwood and Mark Little, and actresses Didi Conn and Jane Danson.

Jane, 40, said that she was encouraged to take part by Coronation Street co-star and 2013 contestant Samia Ghadie.

Jane, who is partnered by Samia’s pro-skater husband Sylvain Longchambon, said: “I’m really close to Samia, she’s one of my best friends, and she said ‘It’s really hard, you will be tired, but you’ve got to do it’. She really encouraged me. They have been really supportive.”

The new series of Dancing on Ice starts on Sunday.

She was quite scared the first time we did lifts... I’ve dropped her a few times RYAN SIDEBOTTOM