Former Australian Test quick Brett Lee and found himself in the middle of Glenn McGrath’s safari hunting scandal after a photo emerged of the two posing next to a dead animal.
Revealed by the Daily Mail, the photo (below) features the former Test stars posing next to a bleeding deer along with two young boys. The photo is believed to have been taken in Africa around 2008 and comes days after hunting photos of McGrath emerged on social media, drawing huge backlash for the trophy kills.
A spokesman for Lee confirmed that the 38-year-old had participated in hunting trips with McGrath, saying “yes, that photo was taken on a farm in South Africa”.
Despite being a hunting enthusiast, McGrath has spoken out against his actions.
“In 2008 I participated in a hunting safari in Zimbabwe that was also licensed but in hindsight highly inappropriate,” he posted on Twitter.
“It was an extremely difficult time in my life and looking back I deeply regret being involved.”
McGrath’s hunting adventures were licensed and legal, however he has been photographed in front of the remains of a dead elephant, considered ‘vulnerable’ by animal welfare groups.
The 45-year-old explained his hunting hobby in an interview with publication Australian Shooter in 2006.
‘I don’t expect people to feel the same way about [shooting], and at the same time, I don’t expect others to force their opinions on me,’ said in the interview.
‘I do have a passion for hunting and it is something I do want to continue once I’ve finished with cricket.’
It continues: @DailyMailAU uncover photo of Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath hunting in South Africa pic.twitter.com/y4rE4HcEmY
— Mark Di Stefano (@MarkDiStef) February 22, 2015
Photo: Getty Images.
