Thomson, 29, who last played for the Black Caps in the West Indies in 1995-96 and the World Cup that season, is serving a three-year international stand-down period before becoming eligible for another country.

According to Northern Districts chief executive John Turkington, Thomson has Dutch ancestry and is exploring his eligibility to play for Holland.

Thomson has played there in recent seasons being a member of the champion premier club team, VRA of Amsterdam, this year playing alongside Cantabrian Craig Cumming.

Thomson's New Zealand test career closed having made 19 appearances scoring 958 runs at a handy 30.90 with five half centuries and one century.

That was an unbeaten 120 against Pakistan at Lancaster Park in 1994 when he teamed with fellow Northern Districts player Bryan Young to guide New Zealand to victory. With the ball Thomson began as a medium-pacer but finished as an off-spinner, his 19 test wickets costing an expensive 50.15. In the international one-day arena Thomson played 56 matches scoring 964 runs at 23 with a bowling return of 42 wickets at 38.14.