Cricketing legend Glenn McGrath says he deeply regrets taking part in a shooting safari, after a social media storm erupted over photos posted online showing him posing with a dead elephant.

The 2008 images, one of which shows show the former Aussie fast bowler sitting and smiling with a rifle in front of a dead elephant, sparked outrage on Twitter on Saturday afternoon.

McGrath, who serves as president of the McGrath Foundation breast cancer charity he founded with his first wife Jane, said later on Saturday afternoon he regretted taking part in the hunt.

Jane died from the cancer in 2008.

“I participated in a hunting safari in Zimbabwe that was licensed and legal but in hindsight highly inappropriate,” he said on Twitter.

“It was an extremely difficult time in my life and looking back I deeply regret being involved.”

McGrath’s statement follows an outraged response on social media, shortly after the photographs started doing the rounds.

“Shooting wild animals and posing in front of them isn’t cool @glennmcgrath11,” one Twitter user posted.

“Glenn McGrath game hunter. Yes, that’s a dead elephant he’s grinning about. Won’t give any more $ to his foundation,” another user tweeted.

Comment sought from the McGrath foundation was referred to McGrath’s manager, Warren Craig.

The photos, originally posted on the website of Chipitani Safari Co, also show McGrath posing with a dead buffalo, dead hyenas and a number of animal bones.

They appear with the tag “Glenn McGrath 2008”.

The photos no longer appear on the website of the company, which claims to “specialise in the best dangerous and plainsgame hunting in Zimbabwean concessions”.

“Track buffalo and tuskless elephant on foot, the real way! Also lion, crocodile, hippo, leopard, sable, kudu and eland,” the company says on its site.