New Zealand Cricket is making a whole-hearted effort to embrace the principles espoused in the Spirit of Cricket preamble to the laws of the game.

Following on from chief executive Martin Snedden's tough stance on player behaviour last year, the game's administrators are going to ensure players at all levels of the game are getting the message about cricket's virtues and traditions.

The Spirit of Cricket was the theme for this year's New Zealand Cricket Umpires' Association annual conference, not because of any perceived problems in New Zealand, but because the concept was so topical.

As a result stumps stickers will be sent to all Associations, clubs and schools before Christmas with messages regarding the Spirit of Cricket.

Posters will also be distributed depicting enjoyment, fairness and some of the icons of fair play who have been part of the New Zealand game. These are designed to win prominent places in clubrooms all over the country.

A pocket-sized card with the words from the message about the Spirit of Cricket written by former England captain and International Cricket Council president Sir Colin Cowdrey will also be given to every player.

NZC umpiring manager Brian Aldridge said: "We want to impress on everyone that they have a responsibility to protect the game they are playing.

"We want them to stop and think about it, about whether they are prepared to ensure the spirit and traditions of cricket.

"Because if they are to respect the game, that requires an effort from the players.

"There are bounds in the game and in the last 10 years some of those have been stretched a bit," he said.

Aldridge was part of the annual sweep around the country's coaching structures last month and he did a presentation to all the country's leading coaches on what was expected of them under the Spirit of Cricket and provided over 300 presentation packs for that message to be passed down through the grades at the coaches' clubs and associations.

"If we can improve the way players act, it will improve the spirit of cricket and it will also encourage parents to have their children play the game," he said.

© CricInfo