Thomson has the distinction of being the first batsman dismissed in a Test match, when he was clean bowled by England's Allen Hill for 1 when the score was 2.

[1] In the Second Test a fortnight later he made 41 in the second innings, adding 88 for the first wicket with Dave Gregory.

He was offered a position on the Australian touring team to England in 1878 but declined due to business reasons and thus finished his brief international career.

However, a note in the Births and Deaths section of the 1993 Wisden announced that research had "led to a change in the details for N.F.D.

Thomson and Ned Gregory are now assumed to have been born on the same day, and jointly hold the distinction of being the earliest-born Australian Test cricketer.