A social media storm has erupted over photos posted online purportedly showing former Australian Test cricketer Glenn McGrath posing with a dead elephant.

The photographs, one of which purports to 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.

“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.

One tweet pleaded for a response from the famous former paceman turned philanthropist: “OMG please say it isn’t true @glennmcgrath11”.

Comment is being sought from the McGrath Foundation after the photos prompted online calls for a boycott of the charity.

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

They appear on Twitter with an accompanying caption “Glenn McGrath 2008”.

The photos no longer appear on the website of Chipitani Safari Co, 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.