If you want to know why people think Test cricket is exciting, pop along to your local HMV and buy the 2009 Ashes boxset, you can get it for about £10 now and watch the First Test at Cardiff. Watch how the game develops, how the Aussies think they're about to wrap it up, watch how Paul Collingwood shows true grit and determination to keep them out time and time again only for him to chuck his wicket away so close to the end to give the victory to the Aussies on a plate only for Panesar and Anderson, not known for their fantástico batting abilities to cling on at the very end to salvage a draw. That's what makes Test cricket exciting.
Then, when you've done that, pop back to HMV and pick up the 2005 Ashes boxset and watch the 2nd test at Edgbaston. Watch England take total control of the game by notching up 400 on day 1, then remain in control by ensuring a steady flow of Australian wickets to give them a 99 run 1st innings lead and end day 2 on 25/1 still looking in control.
Only then to see us look like we're about to throw it away on day 3 by being 6 down in no time, before Flintoff smacks them around the park for a couple of hours to see us defending a rather modest 281 run lead. As Australia look assured at 47/0, Flintoff bowls the best over ever seen dismissing Langer and Ponting. With the Aussies on 175/8 at the close after some fantastic bowling, there could only be one winner.
That's until Warne, Lee and Kasprowicz have something to say about the matter, once again it looks like Australia will fluke a win from nowhere, until, with Australia only needing 3 to win, Harmison bowls one of the worst deliveries he's ever bowled (the worst being the first of the next Ashes series in Australia, but that's a different matter) and the rest, as they say, is history.
That match, and the one mentioned by ARLC explain why test cricket is the most fascinating and intricate sport there is, and why pyjama baseball cricket will always be a very poor imitation of the real thing.