Runs from bad-tempered elk (5)
I believe the answer is:
moose
'elk' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'runs from bad-tempered' is the wordplay.
'runs' becomes 'r' (cricket abbreviation).
'from' suggests deleting specific letters.
'bad-tempered' becomes 'morose'.
'morose' with 'r' removed is 'MOOSE'.
(Other definitions for moose that I've seen before include "North American elk" , "Animal" , "Large US deer" , "Ungulate" , "beasts" .)