He has signed with Ballarat Cricket Association rival Ballarat-Redan.

The 21-year-old says the opportunity to play with mates and further his development in a different environment was behind the shift.

Sandford has played all his cricket with the Bulls and consolidated a place at the top of the first XI batting order over the past three seasons.

Ballarat-Redan club president Paul Aikman believes Sandford will help firm up the Two Swords' top order.

He said Sandford was the perfect fit for Ballarat-Redan's young group - the type of batsman around which an innings could be built.

Aikman said the club needed extra stability at the top order and Sandford had shown he had the ability to be the backbone in a run chase.

Sandford made his firsts debut with Brown Hill in 2014-15 while still playing 16/unders.

He began playing regularly in the firsts in 2017-18 and played every game at that level over the past two seasons - with best scores of 81 not out and 73.

Ballarat-Redan is hoping to have Sandford team up with Englishman and reigning joint EJ Cleary Medallist Sam Burgess as openers.

While the Two Swords are eager to have Burgess back for a second season and the import is wanting to play at Alfredton again, Ballarat-Redan is unsure whether COVID-19 border restrictions will be eased sufficiently in time to make it happen.

Aikman said the situation had not changed since the end of the season and all each party could do was wait.

Burgess was set to play for Kent in the English summer, but having that season cancelled owing to COVID-19 has added further uncertainty over his possible return to Australia.

Aikman said if Burgess did get back to Ballarat, there was every chance he would be accompanied by a second import for the club.

He said if everything fell into place Ballarat-Redan was hopeful of getting a fast bowler from England to further bolster its stocks.

Burgess scored 555 runs last season with a highest score of 101 and an average of 37.

Ballarat-Redan finished sixth last season with five wins and two draws.

The Two Swords have not played finals in a decade.

Even though a ground use agreement between Cricket Victoria and AFL Victoria might see the cricket season start later than usual in late October, the BCA is confident that its 2020-21 season will get under way as usual on the first weekend of October.