I would say Test cricket had 2 Eras - The Pre Sehwag - Gilchrist Era and the Post Sehwag - Gilchrist Era
Test Matches were boring to watch. You would watch the staid batsmen like Gavaskar or Prabhakar defending and leaving deliveries, scoring very rare boundaries and run rates like 1.20 or 1.50 being commonplace until Lunch or even until Tea of the first day.
Draws were a regular occurrence. Strike rates of 45 were normal and a strike rate of 55 was regarded fast and quick.
Even Jayasuriya - would be restrained during a Test Match and play with more caution than he would in an ODI.
Then Came Virender Sehwag
He did not care about tradition or about normal practise. He had a single theory like the Sikh Gentleman in Lagaan - You have a Ball and you Hit the ball for maximum runs.
He would hit the first ball if it was loose enough to the fence without a care in the world.
By doing this the worlds best bowlers were simply distracted.