Why was the cricket bat originally invented?

[This question was sent to dwwae by Mr. J. Wilne of Surrey, U.K.]

The cricket bat was indeed invented many year prior to the invention of the game itself. Experts are divided between two main schools of thought on this topic.

The first view is that the cricket bat is derived from the French culinary tool, the 'croquette' bat. Used widely in rural France to pulverise ingredients (most commonly potato) and then roll them in to the familiar roll shape often found served today.

The second school believes that the cricket bat is the name of the actual bat used in the killing of crickets and other insects found in long grasses across the world for millennia. A 1920's historical survey by J.P. Avery, shows that the occupation of 'pest batter' was widespread in eastern Europe and it is suggested that the 'cricket bat' is simply the tool used by these men to kill the insects.