in South African conditions ahead of a proposed Test tour there next year.

"It is with great frustration that with no progress towards resolving the current dispute, Australia A players confirm they will not tour South Africa," the ACA statement says

"This decision is made in support of more than 200 male and female players who are now unemployed, and is consistent with Sunday’s ACA Executive meeting resolutions.

"By making this call, the Australia A players have sacrificed their own ambitions for the collective; an incredibly selfless act that shows their strength and overall commitment to the group.

"All players are deeply disappointed at the behaviour of CA which forces this course of action, given the players would rather be playing for their country.

"CA refuse to attend mediation or offer any genuinethe respective negotiating teams from both sides continued to work through the issues relating to a new agreement.

The ACA announced last Sunday that the tour, which includes two four-day matches against the Proteas A team and then a limited-overs tri-series also featuring India A, would not go ahead in "the absence of an MOU".

The players have resolved that, unless contractually obliged, no male or female players intend to play for a Cricket Australia (CA) team whilst fellow players remain unemployed due to the absence of an MOU.

In announcing their position at a media conference following an emergency meeting of the ACA executive that was attended by a number of players – including captain of the Australia A four-day squad Usman Khawaja – Nicholson said the decision not to