The players made the decision to withdraw from the Australia A tour of South Africa in the wake of what they deemed a lack of progress being made in pay talks between Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers Association.

Behrendorff was included in the Australia A squad but memorandum of understanding negotiations dragging out beyond the June 30 deadline have effectively resulted in a lockout.

The Australia A squad, featuring headline acts Usman Khawaja, Travis Head and Glenn Maxwell, made the decision in Brisbane on Thursday morning two days before they were set to fly out.

The players have sacrificed their own Test ambitions for the collective gain, standing together in a pay war that could have a huge impact on the upcoming summer of cricket.

CA and the ACA have been in discussions but neither side is prepared to back down from their stance on the fixed revenue share model for the next MOU.

CA wish to break down the model that has been in use for 20 years while the ACA want to renew it.

An ACA statement says the decision was made "with great frustration" but it has been made "in support of more than 200 male and female players who are now unemployed".

Australia A squad members with multi-year state and Big Bash League contracts will still have those deals honoured, however CA-contracted players are effectively unemployed.

Behrendorff battled back onto the domestic scene despite a host of injury concerns last summer, claiming a record-shattering 14-wicket haul in his return to the Sheffield Shield in February.

It was a whirlwind comeback for the Tuggeranong junior who is slowly creeping towards a maiden Australian Test cap.

The Australia A tour loomed as a big opportunity for the Ashes hopeful but Langer expects there will be plenty more chances coming the way of the left-arm quick.

"There's no one more professional in the game than him, and they're the type of people you look to see do well and get an opportunity," Langer said.

"Unfortunately as a fast bowler you have to put up with a few injuries, he's done that, but his professionalism in his rehabilitation to get back on the park has been great.

"Had he have not had those injuries, I'm sure this opportunity would have come a lot sooner because he is a terrific bowler.

"He's an outstanding young bloke and he deserves it. He's been brilliant for us in short-form cricket and when he's been fit he does some great stuff in four-day cricket as well."

August's Test tour of Bangladesh is now shaping as the next major turning point in the biggest industrial battle Australian cricket has seen since World Series in 1977.

Now Behrendorff could be fronted with an ugly decision to make if Australian cricket's worst fears are realised and a player boycott carries on through to August's tour of Bangladesh and a home Ashes series.

The 27-year-old could have to choose between standing with the playing group or a baggy green cap.

However the fact players have already stood together to boycott an 'A' tour suggests there will be no break in solidarity as the pay war continues.

The South Africa tour was to include four-day matches and a limited overs tri-series involving India A.

The tour was projected to cost CA about $250,000, with those funds now set to be invested in the grassroots through the National Communities Facilities Fund.