The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced a life ban on disgraced former New Zealand cricketer Lou Vincent on Tuesday, just hours after the player admitted he was a "cheat" and had shamed his country and the sport by fixing matches.

The ECB said 35-year-old Vincent had pleaded guilty to 18 breaches of the board's anti-corruption regulations in three matches in England and had accepted the ban which barred him from playing or coaching in any form of recognised cricket.

"This has been a complex case which has crossed different cricketing jurisdictions and required close collaboration and intelligence-sharing between both our own anti-corruption unit, other domestic boards and the ICC's ACSU (anti-corruption and security unit," ECB chief executive David Collier said in a statement.

"We are extremely pleased that the matter has now been brought to a satisfactory conclusion and that an individual who repeatedly sought to involve others in corrupt activity for his own personal gain has accepted that his conduct warrants a lifetime ban from cricket.

"It once again highlights our resolve to keep cricket clean and rid the game of the tiny minority who seek to undermine the sport's integrity," he added.

"I have lived with this dark secret for many years, but just months ago I reached the point where I decided I had to come forward and tell the truth.

"It's a truth that has rightly caused uproar and controversy in New Zealand and around the world," he added, before going on to describe the distress he felt for his behaviour.

"I have shamed my country. I have shamed my sport. I have shamed those close to me. For that I am not proud.

"I lost faith in myself and the game. I abused the game I love. I had to put things right.

"Speaking out. Exposing the truth. Laying bare the things I have done wrong is the only way I can find to begin to put things right.

"The time has come for me to now face them like a man and accept the consequences, whatever they may be.

"I accept my punishment."